The first look at Johnny Depp as the controversial King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry has been revealed. This will mark his first role since the contentious Amber Heard trial. Depp is one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, though his name has recently been marred in controversy due to the highly-publicized defamation trial against his ex-wife, Heard. This past June, a jury found that Heard defamed Depp in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed, which alluded to her being a victim of domestic abuse.
Shortly after the trial ended, Depp resumed acting again in the period drama Jeanne du Barry, which started shooting in France at the end of July. From French filmmaker Maïwenn, the film follows a young working-class woman and courtesan named Jeanne who uses her various charms to climb the social ladder, eventually landing on the radar of King Louis XV. Other than Maïwenn in the title role and Depp as the controversial French monarch, Jeanne du Barry also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, Noémie Lvovsky, Pascal Greggory, and India Hair. With the film being Depp’s first major role since the trial ended, many have been eagerly awaiting a glimpse at his return to acting.
Related: How Johnny Depp Tried To Get Fired From 21 Jump Street (& Why He Left)
Now, the first look at Depp in Jeanne du Barry is here. Per Variety, the image shows a side profile of the Pirates of the Caribbean star as King Louis XV in full regal attire, replete with a powdered wig, fuzzy hat, and colorful embroidery. The character is curiously wearing a black blindfold around his eyes, which could have something to do with the plot of the film, or merely meant to symbolize the King’s blindness to his own corruption. Check out the first look below:
![Johnny Depp as King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Johnny-Depp-as-King-Louis-XV-in-Jeanne-du-Barry.jpeg)
Jeanne du Barry is Depp’s first major role since 2020’s Minamata, in which he played the war photographer W. Eugene Smith. Later that same year, Depp was let go from the Fantastic Beasts franchise after losing a libel case against the UK tabloid The Sun, which called the actor a “wife beater.” Since winning the subsequent defamation trial against Heard, which Depp says “gave [him his] life back,” the actor is now looking to restore his Hollywood reputation and Jeanne du Barry represents the beginning of that formidable journey.
Depp’s role as King Louis XV also has the chance to mirror the real-life situation he finds himself in. The French monarch was universally beloved during much of his 59-year-long reign as King, though he suffered a drastic fall from grace after being accused of corruption and debauchery. Time will tell if this marks the beginning of Depp’s comeback. Just like Minamata, Depp’s presence in Jeanne du Barry is sure to cause some controversy leading up to and upon its release, though that hasn’t stopped Netflix from streaming the film.
Source: Variety