In what might be his biggest starring role in years since he was let go from the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, Johnny Depp will star alongside Penélope Cruz in an action thriller for Lionsgate and director Marc Webb, the studio announced on Monday.
Depp and Cruz are teaming up on screen for what will be the fourth time in a thriller called “Day Drinker.” They previously starred together in “Blow,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”
“Day Drinker” follows a cruise ship bartender who meets a mysterious day drinker — only for both of them to find themselves entangled in a criminal underbelly, and connected in unexpected ways.
Webb (“500 Days of Summer,” “Snow White”) is directing from an original spec screenplay by Zach Dean. Dean is the writer of “Fast X,” “The Tomorrow War,” “Deadfall,” and the upcoming “The Gorge” starring Anya Taylor-Joy.
The film is produced by “John Wick” producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for “Thunder Road,”, and Adam Kolbrenner. The film is executive produced by 30WEST. Lionsgate will present Day Drinker in association with 30WEST. The film is a Thunder Road / IN.2 production.
Lionsgate is launching international sales at AFM.
“’Day Drinker’ combines a highly commercial concept with wildly outrageous twists and turns all set in an incredible world, and there is no better filmmaker than Marc or two more perfectly cast actors than Johnny and Penélope to bring that world to life,” Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement.
Chelsea Kujawa is overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Dan Freedman negotiated the deals for the studio.
In light of his very public trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp has been inching back to American screens and movie stardom in the U.S. His most recent role was in “Jeanne du Barry,” in which he starred in the period costume drama French King Louis XV. That film did solid business overseas, bringing in $14.3 million, but it only secured a modest release stateside from Fathom Events. That release though was still the largest opening for Depp since 2018.
Depp said at Cannes he doesn’t feel the same need for Hollywood any longer and no longer feels a “boycott” on him for that reason.
Lionsgate and 30WEST recently teamed on John Carney’s next film “Power Ballad” starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas.
Depp is represented by Range Media Partners and attorney Lisa Nitti. Cruz is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Kuranda Management. Webb is represented by CAA and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Dean is represented by CAA, Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment Group, and attorney Andrew Hurwitz.
THR first reported the news.