Johnny Depp’s Cannes Revelation: ‘I Don’t Have Much Further Need for Hollywood’

The anticipation grew as the scheduled news conference for “Jeanne du Barry” at the Cannes Film Festival faced delays.

Both the film’s actress-director, Maïwenn, and lead actor, Johnny Depp, were noticeably absent. Speculations arose: were they intentionally avoiding questions?

Maïwenn, who faced accusations of spitting on a journalist, and Depp, who recently won a defamation suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for abuse allegations, knew their personal scandals could overshadow the movie’s promotion.

While present at the premiere the previous night, facing the press was an entirely different challenge.

Depp, absent from the morning photo call, missed the opportunity to join Maïwenn for the event. As time ticked by, Maïwenn entered the media room alone, addressing Depp’s absence by revealing her initial consideration of other French actors for his role.

Eventually, she chose Depp based on her emotional connection with him, setting aside his nationality. Meanwhile, questions regarding Maïwenn’s altercation with a journalist and her involvement with director Luc Besson were largely avoided.

Finally, Depp arrived 42 minutes late, causing murmurs among the journalists. He kissed Maïwenn on the head before discussing the role’s language requirements.

However, he was soon confronted with questions about feeling boycotted by Hollywood after his dismissal from the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise amid his legal battles with Heard.

Depp expressed a sense of being boycotted but claimed to no longer dwell on it, stating that he had little need for Hollywood.

Depp’s presence at the festival stirred controversy, with criticism from actors and an open letter denouncing the festival’s decision to include him. When reminded of the opposition, Depp compared it to being banned from McDonald’s and dismissed his critics as anonymous individuals with too much spare time.

Efforts to steer the conversation back to “Jeanne du Barry” were met with halfhearted responses as Depp continued to criticize the media and assert that much of what has been written about him is fictional.

Asked about a potential career comeback through the film, Depp seemed indifferent, remarking that he had not gone anywhere and had been waiting for opportunities.

The news conference unfolded as an event overshadowed by personal controversies, where Depp used metaphors and defended himself against critics, while Maïwenn navigated the situation delicately.

The focus on “Jeanne du Barry” took a backseat to the larger narrative surrounding the presence and reception of its lead actor, Johnny Depp.