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Johnny Depp almost talked himself out of his latest role, and yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds. At the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, Depp straight up told the crowd he tried to convince the director, Maïwenn, NOT to cast him. He couldn’t wrap his head around playing King Louis XV. Imagine that: Johnny Depp, a guy who’s played a pirate, a mad hatter, and more iconic roles than we can count, questioning if he was cut out for playing a French monarch.
At the UK premiere at Curzon Mayfair in London, Depp gave the audience some real talk. He admitted that when Maïwenn first approached him for the role, he couldn’t stop thinking, “Am I the guy to play the King of France?” He shared how his mind went straight to his humble beginnings in Eastern Kentucky, which hit him hard. “You realize that you come from the ‘obelise,’ ‘nombril,’ the belly button of nowhere, and you’re playing the king of France,” Depp laughed. So, of course, he tried to talk Maïwenn out of casting him. But she wasn’t hearing it. “She had great courage to take me into her cast,” Depp said, clearly respecting her determination.
Jeanne du Barry marks Johnny Depp’s big-screen return after a bit of a break. His first significant role since 2020’s Minamata, and yeah, it’s a pretty massive moment for the guy. In this one, Depp takes on the role of Louis XV, playing opposite Maïwenn, who not only directs but also stars as the infamous mistress of the king. Bold move, right? But hey, if anyone can pull off a comeback, it’s Depp.
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