As King Louis XV, Netflix is betting on Johnny Depp's return to film

A new deal has been struck by Netflix Inc. for the actor's next film, which will be his first feature role following his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard and the boycott he claims Hollywood has instituted against him. Two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because the terms have not been disclosed, say Depp's French period film "La Favorite" will receive Netflix's financial backing. Maiwenn Le Besco is directing the film, which is expected to be released in French theaters in 2023, and accessible on Netflix France 15 months later. It is unclear if it will be available globally on Netflix as well. A Netflix representative and a representative for the film's French producer declined to comment. It's Depp's first cinema role since Hollywood turned its back on him after his ex-wife accused him of domestic violence. In June, the actor won $10 million in compensation in a defamation suit against Heard.

A jury found Heard to have made similar claims, awarding her $2 million. According to the French newspaper Figaro, Depp will be appearing in this summer's film for the first time, as this is his first time acting in French.Netflix and other streaming platforms will be spending a share of their revenue on local films as a result of an agreement with French cinema guilds. One of Netflix's first picks is the Depp movie, which is expected to cost 40 million euros ($40.7 million) in 2022. There is no doubt that Le Besco will play Madame du Barry, the famous mistress of Louis XV since she has directed critically acclaimed films such as Polisse and Mon Roi.”The company has also announced that "Asterix & Obelix: l'Empire du Milieu," directed by Guillaume Canet, and "Chien et chat," directed by Reem Kherici, will be coming to Netflix in the near future.