Johnny Depp’s return to the big screen with the upcoming film Jeanne Du Barry has been marred by controversies and revelations from the movie’s director, Maïwenn. In a candid interview with The Independent, Maïwenn shed light on the difficulties she faced while working with the renowned actor, revealing that the crew was often “afraid” of him and his unpredictable behavior.
Maïwenn, who also stars as the titular character Jeanne, a sex worker who catches the attention of Louis XV (played by Depp), did not mince words when describing the challenges of collaborating with the Pirates of the Caribbean star. According to her, Depp frequently failed to show up on time for shoots, causing lengthy delays and frustration among the crew. “We were waiting for Johnny, a lot of the time,” she admitted.
The director also disclosed that Depp would occasionally arrive on set with his own rewritten version of the script, which she ultimately rejected, leading to tensions between the two. “Johnny came with a new version of the script, and I wasn’t happy with it. It didn’t work… So I shot it without making the changes he wanted, which he took as an insult,” Maïwenn revealed.
Beyond the creative differences, Maïwenn painted a picture of an intimidating on-set environment, where the crew felt uneasy around Depp. “All the crew were scared because he has a different kind of humor, and we didn’t know if he was going to be on time or if he was going to be OK to say his lines… Even if he was there on set, on time, the crew were afraid of him,” she confessed.
Despite acknowledging Depp’s genius, Maïwenn lamented the breakdown in communication between them, stating, “I cannot communicate with him.” Their once pleasant relationship has become strained since the shoot, with Maïwenn admitting, “There’s been no normal relationship since the shoot.”
Interestingly, Maïwenn found a silver lining in Depp’s uncooperative behavior, using it to her advantage in a pivotal scene. The distance and tension between the actors added an authenticity to the dynamic between Jeanne and Louis, something the director embraced.
While Maïwenn expressed no regrets about casting Depp, her revelations shed light on the tumultuous behind-the-scenes atmosphere that plagued the production of Jeanne Du Barry. As the film prepares for its US premiere on May 2nd, audiences and critics alike will undoubtedly scrutinize Depp’s performance, filtered through the lens of these candid insights from the director.
