Johnny Depp’s big comeback into film’s biggest stage has hit its first snag, as the American star nearly failed to appear at his scheduled press conference at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
The actor, who plays King Louis XV in the film directed by part-Algerian filmmaker Maïwenn, forced a delay in the start of the morning’s proceedings. After around 20 minutes, the rest of the cast and crew began without him, promising that he would join later, which as of publication, he has not yet done. It is not clear if he will be appearing at all.
Update: Depp arrived 43 minutes into the press conference.
The premiere last night, the prestigious opening slot of this year’s festival, the most important in the world of cinema, went off without a hitch, with Depp and company receiving a seven minute standing ovation and a rapturous reaction from the start of the red carpet until after.
The film is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund, led by Mohammed Al Turki, CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.
Speaking to Esquire Middle East, Al Turki said that the primary reasons that they chose to support the film were the vision and ethnic heritage of Maïwenn.
“We look at so many projects for funding and this one really stood out because the story was beautiful, the director is a female powerhouse and multihyphenate who has an impressive track record behind her. Maïwenn is also of Algerian descent. We wanted to be involved in realising Maïwenn’s dream to highlight Jeanne Du Barry, a name which is largely familiar to students of history but who was a fascinating woman,” said Al Turki.
Al Turki was not aware that the film might get the top Cannes slot before deciding to fund the film.
“Not at all, we obviously believed in the project and feel it deserves the honour of the Cannes Opening Night but it was a wonderful surprise to find out it had been selected!” Al Turki continued.
Johnny Depp also travelled to Saudi Arabia last year, meeting with Al Turki and other Saudi Arabian officials.
We also spoke to Johnny Depp last year, who spoke about the way he was treated in the press before his last trial.
“I also know what it’s felt like to be misunderstood. It’s an area that I’ve explored myself. In terms of state of mind, it’s when you suddenly feel like you’re in the middle of the Colosseum in ancient Rome, and the place is packed, and everyone’s staring, waiting for you to meet the lion,” said Johnny Depp.