Short of being a punchline, we haven’t seen or heard much from Johnny Depp. Well, Depp is set to make his return to the big screen for the first time since Minamata in 2020. Opening in May is Jeanne Du Barry, the French-language film starring Depp as King Louis XV opposite co-writer, director, and star Maïwenn.
The historical drama has been a passion project for Maïwenn who has been putting it together for years, ever since first encountering the character in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. She takes on the role of Jeanne Du Barry, a social-climbing commoner who uses her charms to become the favorite of King Louis XV.
Also in the cast are Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, and Pascal Greggory.
Not that Depp ever really went away, but the film does mark his first since the defamation suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, which largely left him a pariah around Hollywood.
Here’s the film synopsis: Jeanne du Barry follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder, using her charms to escape her impoverished life. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), wishes to present her to King Louis XV (Johnny Depp) and orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard). The encounter goes far beyond his expectations for it was love at first sight for the King and Jeanne. Through this ravishing courtesan, the king rediscovers his appetite for life and feels he can no longer live without her. Making Jeanne his last official mistress, scandal erupts as no one at Court will accept a girl from the streets into their rarified world.
Jeanne Du Barry opens in theaters on May 2nd.
