Get your torches and canisters of snuff ready because Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, a period piece starring Johnny Depp as King Louis XV, is opening the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Maïwenn directs the feature in addition to co-starring as Louis XV’s courtesan lover. Filming began in July last year in locations ranging from Versailles and other chateaux in Paris to France’s Why Not studio. Jeanne du Barry is Depp’s first production in three years and is bound to cause quite a stir upon release. Depp won his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard last year and is rebuilding his Hollywood reputation. While some filmmakers continue to see Depp as box office poison, Maïwenn is confident he will deliver a top-tier performance in the upcoming film.
During his time, Louis XV reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of Louis XIV. Though nicknamed “the beloved,” King Louis XV died as an unpopular ruler after being accused of corruption and debauchery. Depp has yet to appear in a significant film since Andrew Levitas’s 2020 film Minamata.
Deadline previously reported that Maïwenn’s film is loosely inspired by the life of Jeanne Vaubernier, Louis XV’s last royal mistress at the Court of Versailles, after Madame de Pompadour. Left to the mercy of an uncaring society since birth, Jeanne du Barry defied the odds and struggled to survive on her way to becoming the object of Louis XV’s affection. Unaware of Jeanne du Barry’s status upon falling in love, Louis XV spit in the face of tradition to keep her close and rise through the ranks of society.
Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry will be a hot topic at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival because of Depp’s questionable status in Hollywood and the film’s financial connections with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia market is making waves in entertainment markets worldwide. In addition to funding Jeanne du Barry, the territory is now the largest outside shareholder in the beloved Nintendo video game empire.
What do you think about Jeanne du Barry opening the 2023 Cannes Film Festival? Is Hollywood ready for a Johnny Depp comeback? Is Maïwenn playing with fire by involving Depp in making the film? Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below.