“Jeanne Du Barry,” the most recent film from French director Maïwenn that stars Johnny Depp, has discovered a North American distributor in Vertical following its Cannes debut, a person with information advised IndieWire.
“Jeanne Du Barry” was the opening night time movie on the Cannes Movie Pageant final month, the place it acquired a 7-minute standing ovation from the group within the Palais. However it was a controversial alternative due to Depp’s continued profession rehab following the extremely publicized defamation trial between him and ex-wife Amber Heard, but additionally due to a report towards Maïwenn that accused her of assaulting a journalist, an accusation she later admitted to.
The movie stars Depp because the French King Louis XV in a supporting position and primarily follows Maïwenn as Jeanne Vaubernier, an 18th Century French working class lady who turned King Louis XV’s lover. Right here’s the total synopsis:
“Jeanne du Barry” follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class lady decided to climb the social ladder, utilizing her charms to flee her impoverished life. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Poupaud), needs to current her to King Louis XV (Depp) and orchestrates a gathering by means of the influential Duke of Richelieu (Richard). The encounter goes far past his expectations for it was love at first sight for the King and Jeanne. By way of this ravishing courtesan, the king rediscovers his urge for food for all times and feels he can now not stay with out her. Making Jeanne his final official mistress, scandal erupts as nobody at Courtroom will settle for a woman from the streets into their rarified world.
No particular launch plans have been unveiled together with the acquisition, and whereas the movie would possibly get a small theatrical launch, Vertical will almost certainly give the movie a VOD play. The distributor additionally picked up a package deal for an Emma Roberts comedy referred to as “Scorching Mess” out of the Marché du Movie.
Maïwenn additionally co-wrote, directed and produced the critically acclaimed movie which additionally stars well-known French actors Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, and Pascal Greggory. The co-writers are Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi and the movie’s producers are Pascal Caucheteux and Grégoire Sorlat.
Already the movie has carried out strongly on the French field workplace, bringing in $4.1 million over two weeks, and Netflix even has the French rights after its theatrical run. However a North American sale appeared much less sure given Depp’s current woes with Hollywood.
IndieWire’s review out of Cannes mentioned that regardless of Depp’s star energy, the movie is basically an performing showcase for Maïwenn, “for higher or for worse.”
“To name the fashion ‘self-infatuated’ is much less a criticism than a easy assertion of reality,” IndieWire’s Ben Croll wrote. “The auteur guarantees director and muse wrapped in a single, with a voice louder and angrier than that of anybody else; when not on display, all the opposite characters are inclined to ask, The place’s Maïwenn?”
Whereas this acquisition for “Jeanne du Barry” won’t characterize a profession comeback for Depp, even when Hollywood appears ready for it, the star on the movie’s press conference was requested about whether or not he felt “boycotted” by Hollywood and mentioned he didn’t really feel inclined to start his comeback tour.
“Did I really feel a boycott by Hollywood? Effectively, you’d need to not have a pulse to really feel at that time, ‘None of that is taking place, it’s only a bizarre joke or I’ve been asleep for 35 years,’” Depp mentioned throughout the Cannes press convention. “In fact, when you’re asked to resign from a film you’re doing, due to one thing that’s merely a bunch of form of vowels and consonants floating within the air, you’re feeling a boycott.”
The manufacturing corporations are Why Not Productions, France 2 Cinéma, France 3 Cinéma, La Petite Reine, Impala Productions, Les Movies de Batna, In.2 Movie, and Les Movies du Fleuve. Rounding out the under the road expertise is cinematographer Laurent Dailland, editor Laure Gardette, manufacturing designer Angelo Zamparutti, costume designer Jürgen Doering, and composer Stephen Warbeck.
“‘Jeanne du Barry’ was by far essentially the most talked about movie at this yr’s Cannes Movie Pageant and we’re thrilled to have come out on prime of the aggressive bidding struggle for the home rights to Maïwenn’s [visually] gorgeous piece of cinematic artwork showcasing Johnny Depp’s return to the massive display,” Vertical Associate Peter Jarowey mentioned in a press release. “With Johnny’s large enchantment, we really feel moviegoers that won’t usually search out international movies simply would possibly end up for this one.”
CAA Media Finance and Goodfellas collectively dealt with the North American sale. Jarowey and Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical.
Variety first reported the information of the movie’s North American sale.
