Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz are to star in their fourth movie together,Day Drinker, from the producers of theJohn Wickfranchise. The two actors have shared the big screen three times so far, inBlow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,andKenneth Branagh’sMurder on the Orient Express. While their movies didn’t resonate strongly with critics - their highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes isMurder on the Orient Expresswith a 60% score - they have made $1.1 billion at the global box office. The bulk of that gross comes fromPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Now, Lionsgate confirms Depp and Cruz are working together again onDay Drinker.From the producers ofJohn Wick, Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee,it’s marketed as an action thriller by director Marc Webb, who is known for his work on500 Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-Man,and its sequel.The film will be penned by Zach Dean, who wroteFast X, The Tomorrow War, Deadfall,andThe Gorge. An official synopsis says:
In Day Drinker, a cruise ship bartender meets a mysterious day drinker—only for both of them to find themselves entangled in a criminal underbelly, and connected in unexpected ways.
What This Means For Day Drinker
This Could Be Depp’s Return To Hollywood
Day Drinkeris not only the fourth movie starring Depp and Cruz, but it is also the most high-profile film for Depp since his abrupt and tumultuous break from Hollywood. That alone steeps the production in anticipation, possibly intriguing both fans and critics of Depp. One of his most recent films, 2023’sJeanne du Barry, where he played Louis XV, didn’t go over so well with critics.Screen Rant’s own Ben Gibbons gaveJeanne du Barrythree stars. It currently has a 49% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 95% from viewers, indicatingthere’s still interest in films starring Depp.
Depp was accused of abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard, and later was involved in a highly publicized defamation trial involving Heard and an op-ed she wrote about her experience. The verdict went in Depp’s favor.
The talent behindDay Drinkermay be enough to entice viewers to check out the project.Alongside Deppand Cruz, Webb and the producers ofJohn Wickare solid names to have attached.Webbproved his potential with500 Days of Summer, and was able to translate those talents into the now-belovedSpider-Manmovies starring Andrew Garfield. Dean has also proved his skill at handling commercial concepts withFast XandThe Tomorrow War.
Our Take On Day Drinker
The Project Has Promise
As a fan of Webb, I’m looking forward to seeing howDay Drinkerends up.500 Days of Summerwas a brilliantly directed film, and, while I do think he lost his footing a bit withThe Amazing Spider-ManandThe Amazing Spider-Man 2,those movies were at least still enjoyable. So far,Day Drinkersounds like an interesting concept with considerable talent in front of and behind the camera, and, since it’s not a huge piece of IP,I’m hopeful that the production will fare well for Webb, Depp, and Cruz.
