Al Pacino Reflects on His Decades-Long Friendship with ‘Wild’ Johnny Depp: ‘He’s Wonderful’

Pacino spoke with PEOPLE about his life and career in a conversation surrounding his new memoir ‘Sonny Boy,’ out now

Johnny Depp (L); Al Pacino.

Al Pacino is reflecting on his friendship with the “wild” and “wonderful” Johnny Depp.

The prolific actor, 84, spoke about his life and career in a conversation with PEOPLE surrounding his new memoir Sonny Boy, including his decades-long bond with Depp and their new film Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, which Pacino stars in and co-produced with Depp, 61, as director.

“He is a wild fella and he is very creative, and it was fun to work with him.

It really was,” Pacino says of their collaboration on the film, which is based on Dennis McIntyre’s play about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.

“The play itself is different, but the movie has got its own charm and stuff,” the Oscar winner says, adding, “And [the producers] got Johnny.

I said, ‘Yeah, Johnny’s great for it.’ ”

Modi marks Pacino and Depp’s first big-screen project together since they co-led the 1997 crime drama Donnie Brasco — on the set of which they first spoke of making a film about Modigliani, Variety previously reported.

And they’ve kept in touch.

“I’m working with Johnny again, and Johnny and I get together sometimes.

And Johnny and I, he would just say, ‘Here we are.

A couple of toddlers,’ ” ,” Pacino tells PEOPLE, adding of Depp, “He’s wild.

He’s wonderful.”

Johnny Depp (L) and Al Pacino (center) on the set of their movie Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness (2024).
Asked what Depp’s friendship means to him after all this time, Pacino says that even though they “rarely see” each other and hadn’t done so in person “for years” before Modi, he considers the bond a “real” one that falls into a special “category.”

“I have a few people like that that I can say, ‘They’re my friends,’ ” he says.

“And the sad part about life, getting older, is losing them.

What’s tough when I go to New York …

I’m feeling funny because I know so-and-so lived over there, down the street …

and so-and-so was there.”

“And that’s what made my life and my relationship to the city, those people, it’s all about people.

And they’re not there anymore,” the actor explains.

“So it’s weird.

It feels as though you’re being dropped in this lonely planet.”

Modi marks the second time Depp has been in the role of director for a feature film; he made his directorial debut with 1997’s The Brave, which he also starred in alongside Marlon Brando.

Johnny Depp on the set of his movie Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness (2024).
Depp shared photos from the movie’s set back in January, including one snapshot of Pacino in character as art collector Maurice Gangnat, while Depp smiled behind the camera and conversed with actors, his script in hand.

“Embarking on this cinematic journey as the director of Modi has been an incredibly fulfilling and transformative experience,” Depp said in a statement.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire cast, crew, and producers for their unwavering commitment and creativity.”

The Pirates of the Caribbean star also gave a shout-out to his collaborator: “To Al, who requested that I make this film — how could I refuse Pacino? A sincere acknowledgement for generously contributing his talent and dedication to this project.”

“Modi is a testament to the collaborative spirit of independent filmmaking, and I am excited to present this unique and compelling story to the world,” Depp concluded.

Sonny Boy, from Penguin Press, is available now wherever books are sold.