‘I Got A Very Strange Call From Al Pacino’: The Story Behind How Johnny Depp Ended Up Directing His Second Movie In 27 Years

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As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating various worlds and narratives, I must admit that Johnny Depp‘s career path is as intriguing as any quest I’ve embarked upon in-game. His return to directing after a 26-year hiatus, prompted by none other than the legendary Al Pacino, feels like an epic boss battle that only the most courageous of actors would dare to take on.

At the moment, Johnny Depp has several undertakings he’s working on. One of these projects is an exciting opportunity for Depp – the historical drama “Modì“, where he not only stars but also directs and produces. This will be the first directorial venture for Depp since 1997’s “The Brave“. Many might be curious about what led the Academy Award nominee to return to the director’s chair. It appears that the inspiration for his comeback was a phone call from his longtime collaborator, Al Pacino.

It’s generally accepted among filmmakers that directing a movie requires more than just an idea. There are many aspects involved in the job, and honestly, I believe not everyone has what it takes (even me). Therefore, it seems significant events would be needed for Johnny Depp to consider donning his director’s hat once more. Regarding the invitation he received from the legendary figure of Scarface, Depp stated that there was only one appropriate response:

I got a very strange phone call from Al Pacino who said ‘Do remember this Modigliani project?’ and he said I should direct it. For some reason, Al saw me driving this strange machine. And when Pacino speaks, you listen, so I ran with it. But I had no idea what it would be until the pieces of the puzzle came together.

It’s hard for most of us to turn down a request from someone as esteemed as Al Pacino in the industry. At present, it appears that the star of “Finding Neverland” is not regretful about accepting the job offer. In fact, he shared during the San Sebastian Film Festival (through Deadline) that working on “Modì” was a much more positive experience compared to his time on “The Brave”. He further elaborated by stating that this project provided him with an incredibly positive experience in contrast to his work on “The Brave”.

27 years back, as I embarked on creating The Brave, my mind was far from entertaining the thought of making another movie. The numbers were overwhelming; the mathematics just too complex. It leaves you feeling trapped in a rigid maze.

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Johnny Depp’s Directing A New Movie. The Best Piece Of Advice The ‘Funny’ Actor Gave The Modi Cast

Filming for the movie titled “Modì” started earnestly around September 2023, with locations including Budapest and later Italy. Johnny Depp’s film concluded in November of that year. This film focuses on a specific phase in the life of renowned Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, where he grapples with evading authorities, making career decisions, among other things. In his recent interview, the actor from “Dark Shadows” humorously referred to himself as a “giant toddler” during production. The main character is played by Riccardo Scamarcio, while Stephen Graham and Al Pacino take on supporting roles.

Despite thoroughly enjoying his time working on the biographical film, the actor who played Edward Scissorhands pondered that he would “probably never” take up directing again. However, he slightly retracted this statement by hinting that he “might” reconsider the idea in the future. It remains to be seen if the experienced performer will ultimately decide to direct another movie. But if Al Pacino asks him to direct once more for a project like Rango, I’d bet good money that he would at least think about it.

Currently, there’s no confirmed North American release date for “Modì” as of now. However, you might want to look at the 2025 movie schedule to see if it gets added. Additionally, stay tuned for any updates regarding Johnny Depp’s future films.

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2024-09-24 23:10