Depp returns to direction with Modì! Luisa Ranieri & Al Pacino join the star-studded cast in this riveting film!
Johnny Depp has commenced filming for 'Modì' in Hungary, where Italian actress Luisa Ranieri, known for her role as Aunt Patrizia in "The Hand of God," has been revealed as the newest member of the cast. Ranieri will star in this Johnny Depp-directed movie about the life of Amedeo Modigliani, a renowned Italian artist.
Luisa Ranieri is in the company of Riccardo Scamarcio, another Italian actor, who portrays the notorious artist and sculptor. Modigliani, widely recognized for the revolutionary modern style of his works, spent most of his career in France. Al Pacino is also part of the cast, playing the role of Maurice Gangnat, a worldwide art collector. Other notable actors in the film include Antonia Desplat, Stephen Graham, Bruno Gouery, Ryan McParland, Benjamin Lavernhe, and Sally Phillips.
In the film, Ranieri plays Rosalie, an Italian café owner in Paris who was one of Modigliani's portrait subjects. Legend has it that Rosalie played a maternal role for the troubled artist, looking after him during his times of struggle, whether due to lack of money or intoxication.
This film is a significant one for Depp, marking his directorial comeback 25 years after "The Brave," where he shared the screen with Marlon Brando. Depp, who was last seen portraying Louis XV in "Jeanne Du Barry," faces media scrutiny due to his recent legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
"Modì" unfolds during the upheaval of World War I in Paris and spans 48 crucial hours in the life of Modigliani, solidifying his status as an artistic icon. The film, derived from a play by Dennis McIntyre, is brought to the screen by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski.
Producing the film are Barry Navidi and IN.2, along with Depp, under the representation of Jack Whigham at Range Media Partners. Also contributing as producers are Italy's ILBE Group, headed by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi.
This movie represents the fourth time producer Navidi has collaborated with Al Pacino, having previously worked together on projects like "The Merchant of Venice," "Wilde Salomé," and "Salomé." The local production aspects are managed by Proton Cinema in Budapest.
Nicola Pecorini is in charge of cinematography, while Dave Warren leads the production design, and Penny Rose is responsible for the costume design. Sharon Howard-Field is supervising the casting for "Modì."
After completing several weeks of shooting in Budapest, where it substitutes for Paris, the filming of "Modì" is scheduled to relocate to Italy.