Johnny Depp and a Dinosaur
Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
Johnny Depp directs, Mission: Impossible in a wheelchair, Universal’s Scar Tissue, Cillian Murphy in Berlin, and a dinosaur.
Let’s go!
JOHNNY DEPP DIRECTS
Johnny Depp gets personal.
For the first time since 1997, Depp will direct a feature film. Al Pacino requested him personally.
Parts of the official synopsis feel achingly self-reflective:
Paris, 1916, in the midst of WWI--the Italian-born painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani considers himself a commercial and critical failure. One evening in a fashionable restaurant his frustrations erupt into scandalous behavior and costly damage to the premises. Suddenly he finds himself on the run from the police.
Directing Modi seems to have been a transformative experience for Depp.
He stated:
“I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire cast, crew, and producers for their unwavering commitment and creativity. To Al, who requested that I make this film — how could I refuse Pacino? A sincere acknowledgment for generously contributing his talent and dedication to this project.”
He continued:
“Modi is a testament to the collaborative spirit of independent filmmaking, and I am excited to present this unique and compelling story to the world.”
Since Depp is relegated to the world of independent film for the time being, he seems primed for artistic renewal.