It’s been nearly six years since actor Johnny Depp’s illustrious film career went up in flames. It all began in 2018 when Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard published an OpEd in The Washington Post, where she accused the Edward Scissorhands (1990) actor of verbal, physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Shortly after the OpEd was published, Depp was dropped by Disney and Universal, losing his leading roles in their Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchises.
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For years, Depp appeared in just one or two films and television shows per year, unlike the three or more high-profile films he was used to. However, he has been working on his own version of a Hollywood comeback since a jury found the Aquaman (2015) actress guilty of defaming Depp. Heard was ordered to pay more than $10 million in damages, but she and her ex-husband came to an agreement, and she only had to pay him $1 million, which he donated to charity.
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Depp’s newest film — Jeanne du Barry — is currently set to hit 500 theaters nationwide on May 2. The Black Mass (2015) star has been doing press for the film, as well as showcasing a brand-new look as he embraces a new life of “clean living”. In the film, Depp plays the legendary King Louis XV.
However, while his outside appearance may have changed, the Jeanne du Barry director, Maïwenn, has said that his attitude has not. Maïwenn also wrote the film and stars as Jeanne du Barry, the King Louis’ official mistress.
In a recent interview with The Independent, Maïwenn spoke about the complexities and the hardships of working with Johnny Depp. She even went so far as to say that the crew was afraid of him.
Throughout the shoot, she says, Depp ignored her texts and would only talk to her when his entourage were around. And he often failed to show up on the set. It’s since been reported that, in retaliation, Maïwenn would fail to appear the next day. “This is totally false!” yelps Maïwenn. “We were waiting for Johnny, a lot of the time… But I was the first arriving on set and the last person to leave.”
The acclaimed director also claims that she had to cut some of Mr. Depp’s screen time because his French accent was not where it needed to be. She wanted to work with him on it, but he would not be available for rehearsals.
Though she admits to cutting some of Depp’s dialogue, it wasn’t out of spite. “There was no time for rehearsals. I asked for time but, for whatever reason, he wasn’t available… He had a coach, but he couldn’t work with her beforehand. So. OK. I discovered his accent wasn’t perfect. So a few times I decided to cut his lines. But that also happened with the French actors. It happens!”
This is not the first time that Depp has been accused of unprofessional behavior on set. In fact, before Hollywood shunned him, the actor had a reputation for being late and showing up unprepared. And just a few weeks ago, Mr. Depp’s Blow (2001) costar, Lola Glaudini, said that the actor verbally abused her on set. Mr. Depp has denied the allegations.
However, it is also important to note that Maïwenn is also known for having a temper. In early 2023, a court ordered her to pay damages to a journalist because she had spit in their face. According to the court documents, she approached Médiapart magazine editor-in-chief Edwy Plene in a restaurant, grabbed him by the hair, and spit in his face.
Maïwenn has admitted to the incident, and it is believed that she spit in Plene’s face due to an investigation Médiapart published about her husband, Luc Besson. Besson, also a director, was accused of rape and sexual assault, but the charges have since been dropped.
Do you think Johnny Depp should work to improve his on-set reputation? Let us know in the comments!
