Jeanne du Barry has fans and critics wondering if the film's success could mean a Hollywood comeback for Johnny Depp. Depp’s legacy stretches from the 90s with his successful Tim Burton collaborations to the 2000s when the cultural icon that is Jack Sparrow was born. However, in the late 2010s, with the Amber Heard controversy and a long string of blockbuster failures, it seemed that Johnny Depp’s legacy was in murky waters. But with the recent court trial reveals and his down-to-earth personality, Johnny Depp is back in the public’s hearts and minds.

Jeanne du Barry may not seem like a typical Johnny Depp flick. For one, Johnny Depp isn’t the star of the film, nor is he playing a wacky character. Instead, Jeanne du Barry is a low-key foreign film that Depp’s first time acting in French. The film follows the life of Jeanne du Barry, a woman from poor beginnings who rose through the court of Louis XV and became his last mistress. Johnny Depp may play the infamous Louis XV, but the film's focus is clearly du Barry. Depp will be taking a backseat for the majority of the film, but from reviews, the scenes he is in are fantastic.

Depp's New Movie Is A Hit In Cannes - Setting Up A Hollywood Comeback

At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Jeanne du Barry received a seven-minute standing ovation. In an interview with Deadline, Cannes Festival director and French critic Thierry Frémaux praised the film, calling it a "beautiful film,” “a success,” and “Johnny Depp is magnificent in it.” From the positive Cannes , there is a buzz that Johnny Depp is on his way to a Hollywood comeback.

While Johnny Depp never really left Hollywood, his reputation in Hollywood was soiled for some time. After a string of blockbuster failures, Depp played roles in smaller films, such as Russel Poole in City of Lies (2018) and W. Eugene Smith in Minamata (2020). Even though Jeanne du Barry is also a small film, his critical praise as Louis XV has already leaked into mainstream media, which could bring Depp’s acting credibility back to the discussion.

Johnny Depp's Movie Comeback Could Be Thwarted By Poor Reviews

The Cannes Film Festival is very much its own thing and does not necessarily reflect a wider audience. For example, Jeanne du Barry currently has 51 percent on Rotten Tomatoes out of 31 reviews. While this is a small sample size, the reviews seem to be split down the middle, with some people praising Depp’s performance while others claim he does too little. In an interview with the French website Premiere, the director and star of Jeanne du Barry, Maïwenn, commented that her film wasn’t very dialogue heavy, and she was impressed by Depp’s expressiveness.

While some critics may not have picked on the subtleness of Depp’s performance, others make it clear that Depp’s role as Louis XV will be ed. Nevertheless, the film will likely not reach a broad audience, especially if the reviews worsen. Mixed with the fact that foreign films don’t normally do well in North America, it is a strong possibility the film won’t be the Hollywood comeback that Johnny Depp fans were hoping for.

Do Johnny Depp & Hollywood Need Each Other In 2023?

Johnny Depp has left his mark as an actor and is quite happy playing guitar in various bands, including The Hollywood Vampires. Depp is comfortable in ensemble pieces, such as The Wolf in Into the Woods. Starring in smaller movies like Jeanne du Barry might actually suit him better than a return to blockbusters. After all, Depp starred in a string of smaller films throughout the 90s and was happy taking roles that interested him.

The rise of Jack Sparrow with the success of Pirates of the Caribbean can be considered the best and worst move for his career. Depp became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, but with that, some thought he had lost the charisma and talent from his earlier film days. With some critics criticizing his wacky roles as becoming predictable, it seems that audiences were hungry for some successful Depp flicks. Depp’s star in Hollywood was arguably fading even before the controversy, with Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts on the decline and major flops like The Lone Ranger, Mortdecai, and Transcendence.

While Johnny Depp may have come to California to be a musician, he has dedicated himself to the craft of acting since the 1990s. Controversies and bad reviews hurt his legacy, but that doesn’t erase his plethora of iconic roles that are still alive in the public consciousness. Jeanne du Barry may resurrect Depp’s Hollywood image, but Depp will always be relevant to the culture.

Source: Premiere