Johnny Depp Returns To Director With Modigliani

Johnny Depp (Photo: IG @johnnydepp)

JAKARTA - Johnny Depp will direct a film for the first time in a quarter of a century with Modigliani, a biographical drama about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. Al Pacino will serve as producer on the film along with Barry Navidi.

Modigliani is set in Paris 1916 and tells the story of the Italian-born painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani. "The story of Mr Modigliani's life is one I really appreciate, and am truly humbled to bring to the screen," Depp said in a statement.

"It was a very difficult life, but in the end it was victorious - a universal human story that all audiences can identify with," he continued.

Modigliani also marks another collaboration between Al Pacino and Navidi. "This project is very close to Al's heart. Al introduced me to Modigliani's drama many years ago and I fell in love with it immediately," said Navidi.

"This is a slice of Modi's life and not a biography. It is my dream to work with Johnny again - he is a true artist with an extraordinary vision to bring this great story to the screen," continued Navidi.

The film is Depp's latest attempt to restart his career following the defamation trial of his ex-wife Amber Heard. The jury found that Heard had defamed Depp in his 2018 Washington Post opinion, alluding to being a victim of domestic violence.

However, the jury also found that Johnny Depp defamed Heard, through his lawyers, while fighting his charges. Although Hollywood had shied away from Depp, he was able to find work with a European production company.

He also plays the controversial King Louis XV in the upcoming film Jeanne du Barry by French director Maïwenn. This is a historical romance drama about a royal concubine.