'Jeanne du Barry', star of Johnny Depp's Cannes, arrives in national distribution
Film

‘Jeanne du Barry’, star of Johnny Depp’s Cannes, arrives in national distribution

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Joan of Barrythe opening night of this year’s Cannes Film Festival starring embattled actor Johnny Depp will be released in North America.

Vertical has obtained the domestic rights to the period drama, directed by and starring Maïwenn. Depp plays King Louis XV and the film follows his relationship with Jeanne Vaubernier, a working-class woman who rises to the level of the king’s mistress.

North American release plans, including theatrical releases, are not yet confirmed.

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The $22 million budget film, which was shot in France, including Versailles, turned out to be a hit at the French box office with 401,481 admissions (or $2.56 million US) in its first week of release, the best showing in a decade for a Cannes opening night film in the country, according to French distributor Le Pacte.

The film also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud and Pascal Greggory. Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi co-wrote the film with Maïwenn. Pascal Caucheteux and Grégoire Sorlat produced together with Maïwenn. Funding came from the Red Sea Film Foundation; Goodfellas negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

Joan of Barry it was seen as a controversial choice to open the Cannes Film Festival. Depp has been in a years-long legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, which includes domestic violence allegations, during which he was largely off-screen and away from red carpet events. Two high-profile defamation lawsuits have played out in public, one of which earned Depp the victory last December.

In Cannes, Depp e Joan of Barry they received a warm reception, including scores of fans outside the Grand Lumiere theater and an extended standing ovation for the films.

The Hollywood Reporter the review of the film reads: “It has a fantastic setting, with many scenes shot in and around the real Palace of Versailles, and a very good staging, with du Barry’s Louis XV biography from riches to riches providing the main plot. But once all that is in place, Maïwenn really doesn’t make much of it.