“Jeanne Du Barry,” French director Maïwenn’s latest film starring Johnny Depp, has found a North American distributor in Vertical Entertainment following its Cannes debut, an insider told IndieWire.
“Jeanne Du Barry” was the opening night film at the Cannes Film Festival last month, where it received a 7-minute standing ovation from the crowd at the Palais. But it was a controversial choice due to the continued rehabilitation of Depp’s career following the highly publicized libel trial between him and ex-wife Amber Heard, but also due to a report against Maïwenn who accused her of assaulting a reporter, a charge he later admitted.
The film stars Depp as the French King Louis XV in a supporting role and mostly follows Maïwenn as Jeanne Vaubernier, an 18th-century French woman who became the mistress of King Louis XV.
Maïwenn also co-wrote, directed and produced the critically acclaimed film which also starred noted French actors Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud and Pascal Greggory. The co-writers are Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi and the film’s producers are Pascal Caucheteux and Grégoire Sorlat.
The film has already performed strongly at the French box office, grossing $4.1 million in two weeks, and Netflix even holds the French rights after its theatrical release. But a North American sale seemed less certain given Depp’s recent woes with Hollywood.
The production companies are Why Not Productions, France 2 Cinema, France 3 Cinema, La Petite Reine, Impala Productions, Les Films de Batna, In.2 Film and Les Films du Fleuve. Rounding out the talent below the line is cinematographer Laurent Dailland, editor Laure Gardette, production designer Angelo Zamparutti, costume designer Jürgen Doering and composer Stephen Warbeck.
CAA Media Finance and Goodfellas jointly handled the North American sale. Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on Vertical’s behalf.
Variety first reported the news of the film’s sale in North America.
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