Behind-the-Scenes with Johnny Depp: Reflecting on Cannes and Hollywood's Perception
The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival made headlines with its controversial opening night selection, Maïwenn's "Jeanne du Barry," which showcased Johnny Depp's return to the big screen after a tumultuous period in his personal and professional life.
Amidst speculation about his Hollywood comeback, Depp recently opened up about his experience at Cannes and the challenges he has faced.
Depp's participation in "Jeanne du Barry" marked his first major acting role in years, following his highly publicized defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard and allegations of unprofessional behavior on movie sets. The film, set in the period era, features Depp in a supporting role as French monarch Louis XV, alongside Maïwenn's titular character.
While the movie garnered moderate reviews upon its premiere, it generated as much attention for the personal lives of its cast as for its artistic merits. Prior to the festival, both Depp and Maïwenn found themselves making headlines for separate incidents: Depp's director and co-star faced backlash for assaulting a journalist at a restaurant in France.
During a recent behind-the-scenes Instagram video released by photographer Greg Williams, Depp candidly discussed his feelings about returning to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Reflecting on his past experiences at the event, he revealed, "Walking up the steps at the thing, I've done it a few times with different films over many years. It's quite beautiful, when you're at the receiving end, you just feel like, initially you feel fucking exposed."
In the midst of speculation about his Hollywood comeback, Depp pushed back against the notion that his return to acting constitutes a "comeback" at all. He emphasized that he had never truly left the industry despite the damage to his reputation.
"I mean, you call it whatever you want, you could make it whatever you want, but comeback? I mean, you have to go away to come back," Depp explained. "I didn't go nowhere. Maybe I was not thought of or looked at or allowed to be looked at."
Acknowledging the impact of his recent scandals on public perception, the actor expressed confidence in his resilience and ability to overcome failures.
He stated, "People can hit the bottom many times. You can drop straight to the bottom a billion f**king times, but if you're lucky enough to find the basement, you're alright, you know?"
Depp's appearance at Cannes and his introspective remarks have sparked discussions about his future in Hollywood. Observers from the film industry are speculating about the potential for a larger-scale comeback from the acclaimed actor.
As Depp navigates the aftermath of his legal battles and seeks to rebuild his career, time will tell whether his return to the spotlight will bring renewed success and acceptance within the film industry.