Johnny Depp Directing His First Film in 25 Years With Al Pacino Producing

Johnny Depp is returning to the director's chair for the first time in 25 years as he prepares to helm Modigliani with the help of Al Pacino has a producer.

Based on Dennis McIntyre’s play of the same name, the upcoming film is a biographical drama about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, with the screen adaptation set in Paris in 1916. Modigliani “long considered by himself a critical and commercial failure, navigates a turbulent and eventful 48 hours that will become a turning point in his life, ultimately solidifying his reputation as an artistic legend.”

“The saga of Mr. Modigliani’s life is one that I’m incredibly honored, and truly humbled, to bring to the screen,” Depp said in a statement. “It was a life of great hardship, but eventual triumph — a universally human story all viewers can identify with.”

In addition to Pacino, Barry Navidi will be serving as producer while IN.2 is backing the film. “This project has been very close to Al’s heart. Al introduced me to the play Modigliani many years ago and I instantly fell in love with it,” Navidi, who has teamed up with Pacino in the past, shared. “This is a slice of Modi’s life and not a bio. It’s been a dream of mine to work with Johnny again — he’s a true artist with an amazing vision to bring this great story to the screen.”

Elsewhere in entertainment, Chad Stahelski wants his Ghost of Tsushima adaptation to be in Japanese with an all-Japanese cast.