Johnny Depp made a triumphant return to the big screen on Tuesday night, as he starred in the opening of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, “Janne du Barry”. The historic drama, directed by and co-starring French actress and filmmaker Maiwenn, tells the story of the last mistress of King Louis XV of France, who was executed during the French Revolution.
Depp, who plays the king in the film, received a seven-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, where he appeared visibly moved and teary-eyed. The actor also signed autographs and took selfies with fans, who showed their support with signs that read “Congrats, Johnny”, and “We are sorry” with a heart.
The film marks Depp’s first major role since his high-profile defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard, which ended in June 2022 with a U.S. jury awarding his more than $10 million in damages. Depp had sued Heard for writing an op-ed in The Washington Post in 2018, where she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse without naming Depp. The actor denied the allegations and accused Heard of being the abuser.
Depp had previously lost a libel case in Britain against The Sun newspaper, which called him a “wife beater” in a 2018 article. Following that verdict, Depp was dropped from the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, a spin-off of the “Harry Potter” series.
On Wednesday, Depp spoke to reporters at Cannes and said he had “no further need” for Hollywood. “I have always been someone who enjoys creating characters and telling stories”, he said. “I don’t need to be validated by anyone or anything. I’m happy to be here and to share this film with you”.
“Janne du Barry” is one of the 24 films competing for the prestigious Palme d’Or award at Cannes, which will be announced on May 28. The festival will also feature screenings of other anticipated films such as “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, starring Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Martins Corses’s “Killers of the Flower Moon”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, and Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch”, starring Timothee Chalamet and Frances McSormand.
The festival will also honor veteran actor Michael Doughlas with an honorary Palme d’Or for his career achievements. Douglas will be accompanied by his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter Carys at the event.
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the film industry, attracting celebrities, filmmakers and critics from around the world. This year’s edition was delayed from its usual May slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also forced the cancellation of last year’s festival. .
