Johnny Depp has made his return to the silver screen in French period drama Jeanne Du Barry, and interest has been high ever since its phenomenally well-received Cannes Film Festival debut. Jeanne Du Barry is Johnny Depp’s first feature film since his widely publicized legal disputes with ex-wife Amber Heard. Jeanne Du Barry, also titled La Favorite, sees Depp tackle the part of yet another historical figure following his notable portrayals of J.M. Barrie, John Dillinger, Ed Wood, Donnie Brasco, and John Wilmot. The new Johnny Depp movie Jeanne Du Barry is directed by Maïwenn, who previously helmed French films like DNA, Mon Roi, and Poliss — and it’s already creating conversations.
The movie transports audiences back to France in the 18th century and explores the real-life relationship between Johnny Depp’s King Louis XV and his favorite mistress Madame du Barry. Barry wasn’t well-liked at the king’s court, with famous royalty like Marie Antoinette — who married the king’s grandson — describing her as a scandalous figure. While the period drama will likely focus on her relationship with Johnny Depp’s character, Madame du Barry was notable for her continued controversies after the king’s death and well into the French Revolution. Jeanne Du Barry was licensed for streaming by Netflix, and anticipation for the U.S. release date is high.
The Latest Jeanne Du Barry News
The most recent Jeanne Du Barry news finally detail the movie’s U.S. distribution following the movie’s huge theatrical success in France (via Variety). Jeanne Du Barry has been acquired by Vertical for its North America release, which means the movie is much closer to getting a U.S. release date. This follows a phenomenal box office run in France, as the new Johnny Depp movie made over $4 million in the country alone (via Variety), and that’s without being released anywhere else in Europe too.
Other updates about the new Johnny Depp movie come from the star himself. Many are calling Jeanne Du Barry a comeback for the actor after he was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise by Warner Bros. and hasn’t had a major movie release in several years. However, Johnny Depp himself seems to disagree with the comeback assessment (via The Wrap). Depp explained, “I mean, you call it whatever you want, you could make it whatever you want but come back? I mean, you have to go away to come back. I didn’t go nowhere. Maybe I was not thought of or looked at or allowed to be looked at…“
Jeanne Du Barry Release Date
Jeanne Du Barry was released in French theaters the same day as its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2023. Jeanne Du Barry will then release on Netflix in France 15 months after its theatrical premiere, so it is predicted to drop on the service around August 2024. The French horror film Titane was released in French theaters in July 2021 before being distributed in the US in October, so if Jeanne Du Barry follows a similar model, it could arrive in the U.S. around August 2023.
However, it all depends on the movie finding a U.S. distributor, which is why the official Jeanne Du Barry release date outside of France has not been officially announced. Thankfully, recent Jeanne Du Barry news confirms that a deal has been made with Vertical (via Variety), so a release date will likely be announced in the near future. The distributor acquired the distribution rights to 2022’s Emily the Criminal in February, and it was released in August, which is a difference of around six months. Going by that rule of thumb, the movie could be released in November or December, but it also depends on where on the calendar the distributor thinks the movie will be most successful.
Jeanne Du Barry Cast
Opposite Johnny Depp’s Louis XV in the Jeanne Du Barry cast is director Maïwenn in the title role. Maïwenn got her start in the business as a child actor and enjoyed her breakout in the 1983 movie, L’été meurtrier (One Deadly Summer). She also had a bit role in Leon: The Professional while she was married to that movie’s director, Luc Besson. Her most famous role was as the alien Diva Plavalaguna in The Fifth Element. As a director, Maïwenn was previously nominated for a Cesar Award for the 2006 movie Pardonnez-moi and won the Jury Prize at Cannes for her 2011 movie Polisse.
The rest of the Jeanne Du Barry cast is also considerably well-crafted. The French movie will also star Pascal Greggory as Le Duc d’Aiguillon, Pierre Richard as Le Duc de Richelieu, Noémie Lvovsky as La Comtesse de Noailles, Benjamin Lavernhe as La Borde, and India Hair as Adélaïde. Rounding out the Jeanne Du Barry cast is Melvil Poupaud as Le Comte du Barry, Suzanne de Baecque as Victoire, Capucine Valmary as Louise, Diego Le Fur as Le Dauphin, Micha Lescot as Mercy, Marianne Basler as Anne, Robin Renucci as Monsieur Dumousseaux, and Pauline Pollmann as King Louis XV’s wife, Marie Antoinette.
Will Jeanne Du Barry Be Johnny Depp’s Comeback?
Interest in Jeanne Du Barry has soared since the movie’s premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival. For anyone wondering if the new Johnny Depp movie was going to be well-received in Johnny Depp’s comeback, the news is that it is very good. The audience in attendance gave the movie a seven-minute standing ovation at its conclusion. Of course, this is something that has happened before with movies that ended up critically panned. The Neon Demon received a 17-minute standing ovation at Cannes and ended up with a 58% Rotten Tomatoes rating and only made $1.3 million worldwide.
Based on the reviews from critics who say Jeanne Du Barry at Cannes Film Festival, it looks similar. The movie sits at 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it will be interesting to see how it levels out when regular audiences are concerned. It will be 15 months after the French theatrical premiere before it arrives on Netflix in the country, and there is still no word on when audiences in the United States will get a chance to see the movie. However, for now, the cast and crew can enjoy their Cannes fame. Depp was reported to be holding back tears as he waved to the audience while Maïwenn cried openly as she addressed the audience.
I want to share this moment with my lover, with my producer, with Le Pacte. It was a production that was difficult to finance … and I want to share this moment with all my team across the theater.
Jeanne Du Barry Story Details
The new Johnny Depp movie is a dramatized biopic of a real French monarch — King Louis XV. King Louis XV, who ruled from 1715 until his death in 1774, was the last king of France before the French Revolution, which began under the reign of his grandson Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette. Johnny Depp’s character was notable for his largely ineffective rule, which led the nation to financial ruin, and was remembered for frequent accusations of corruption. He also had many mistresses, with Jeanne Du Barry as his favorite of them all. This movie focuses on both his failing reign as King and his romance with Madame De Barry.
Many Jeanne Du Barry updates arrived after its Cannes Film Festival premiere. The movie follows Jeanne Du Barry, a rebellious low-born French woman who ends up as King Louis XV’s favorite mistress. Along the way, she tries to change things thanks to her rebellious spirit, both in how she dresses and how she acts around the courtiers. She is smart, much more so than the King, and both book-read and philosophical in nature. Out of all the King’s mistresses, she was the one that turned things upside down during his reign.
Jeanne Du Barry Trailer
The Jeanne Du Barry trailer arrived a month before its Cannes Film Festival premiere and showed the costumes and extravagance involved in this movie. It started out with Jeanne Du Barry enjoying her life while interacting with various men and locals. However, when her father sets up a meeting with King Louis XV, her life changes forever. It then shows their romantic affair starting and the adverse reaction of King Louis XV’s trusted counsel and even his own daughters to the arrival of his new lover.
