Streaming giant Netflix is helping Hollywood star Johnny Depp return to film after his much-publicized defamation lawsuit against ex-wife and actress Amber Heard, which he eventually won. According to aceshowbiz.com, the 59-year-old will play the role of King Louis XV in the French-language film “La Favre”, earlier touted as “Jean du Barry”. Netflix has acquired the rights to stream the film in France, people familiar with the deal tell Bloomberg.
The acquisition of the film rights will be used by the producers to help finance the production. Under the deal, the period piece will hit streamers 15 months after its theatrical release. However, Netflix does not have the rights to stream the film in other regions and is not involved in the making of the pictures.
La Favre, directed by Maiven Le Besco, will tell the story of Jean Becco, a poor seamstress who rises through the ranks of Louis XV’s court to become his official mistress. Le Besco also stars as Jean Becu. Although the real Louis XV ruled France for nearly 59 years, he “died as an unpopular king … accused of corruption and corruption,” Variety wrote in January.
Filming is set to begin across France at the end of this summer and will last about three months. The film is expected to be ready for theatrical release in the country in 2023.
La Favourite will be Depp’s first acting role since winning a defamation lawsuit.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages after a jury found his ex-wife Heard guilty of defaming him. The same jury awarded the Aquaman actress $2 million for making similar claims against Depp.
Depp’s last film was Minamata, which released in the US late last year. In November 2020, he withdrew from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, in which he was to reprise his role as Grindelwald, and was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen after losing his UK libel case against The Sun.