(Credits: Andy Templeton)
Actor Johnny Depp, who has fallen out of the Hollywood system since his bitter legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, has claimed audiences have become “sick” of big-budget productions.
Depp’s latest venture sees him star in Maïwenn’s French-language film, Jeanne du Barry. In the movie, he portrays Louis XV, who becomes entrapped in a love affair with Madame du Barry which sends ripples through the court system in Versailes.
While the movie still had a sizeable budget attached to the project, it remains considerably less than many of the Hollywood productions that Depp has previously been involved in. However, he’s not devastated by becoming persona-non-grata in Los Angeles, and is enjoying this new chapter.
“By and large, for the majority of the years I’ve been wandering around aimlessly talking to people, they really want the same thing,” Depp reflected to the Metro about his thoughts on the film industry, and the desires of actors.
He elaborated: “They don’t want to be fed dreck. They’re happy when they experience something new or different. So that’s why I’ve always felt, as an actor, it’s your responsibility. When you come out of the gate each time… you’re putting as much at stake as anybody.”
It seems unlikely that Hollywood will welcome Depp back with open arms following the damage his reputation suffered during his well-publicised trial with Heard, and the actor’s latest comments further show he’s intent on burning more bridges.
Taking aim at the studios, Depp said: “They’re disposable and they realise it. Glorified accountants who have the ability to press the green light and make studio films… but they press the green light, they spent shitloads of money. Budgets are ridiculous on these films… some romantic comedy with two very popular people. People – the real people – they’re sick of it.”
Meanwhile, Depp’s latest comments arrive after the UK premiere of Jeanne du Barry, where he shared he felt “strangely, oddly, perversely lucky” to have been given such an opportunity. The actor stated the offer immediately casted his mind back to Kentucky where “everything is fried” and you come “from the bellybutton of nowhere and suddenly you end up playing the King of France.”
Furthermore, after being given the chance to star in the movie, Depp revealed that “tried to talk [director Maïwenn] out of it” because choosing him for the role “made no sense to me.”
The actor said that the director displayed great courage and hopes that the audience will “find it was well worth the agony of this kid trying to make a film for that length of time.”
Watch the trailer for Jeanne du Barry below.
