Johnny Depp Opens Up About Directing New Film Modi, Starring Al Pacino: ‘I Feel Immensely Fortunate’

Johnny Depp’s new movie as a director ‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness’ premieres at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival on Sept. 24

Johnny Depp on April 15, 2024. 

Johnny Depp is giving audiences new insight into why he stepped behind the camera for his new project.

The Depp-directed Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, which stars Riccardo Scamarcio as 20th century artist Amedeo Modigliani, is making its world premiere at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival on Sept.24.

In a recent interview with Variety, Depp, 61, and his producers spoke about the making of the period film — and why Depp was drawn to the subject matter.

“Modigliani was, of course, one of the great contemporary artists of all time.

But he also represented an era and point of view where new possibilities still existed.

His vision fascinates me,” Depp told the outlet.

“He doggedly walked to the beat of his own drum, and possessed a natural allergy for convention during a time where the norm was being openly challenged across every medium.

It would be foolish not to admit that everything Modigliani ever stood for, and continues to stand for, resonates deeply within me.”

“I feel immensely fortunate to be given the opportunity to, along with a sublime cast and crew, capture his world in three days,” the actor and filmmaker added.

Johnny Depp (left) and Al Pacino on set of their new movie ‘Modi’.

Modi‘s cast also features Al Pacino, who produced the movie, Stephen Graham, Al Pacino, Antonia Desplat, Bruno Gouery and Luisa Ranieri.

Pacino first spoke with Depp about making a film about Modigliani while they were shooting the 1997 movie Donnie Brasco, reported Variety.

As Depp’s IN.2 production company executive Stephen Malit told Variety, Pacino, 84, “recognized that [Depp] was the right director because he has the sensibility and sensitivity of an artist.”.

Johnny Depp on the set of his new movie ‘Modi’.

“Johnny was quite surprised, humbled and a bit blown away that Al was asking him to direct this,” Stephen Deuters, the company’s CEO, added.

“He wasn’t expecting anyone to ask him to direct a film at that particular moment.

We had a lot going on at the time, this was even before COVID, and we just thought it would be a really positive thing for us to do, a slightly unexpected change of direction and something that he could really throw himself into. . .

I think Johnny really didn’t believe it was even happening until he landed [on set].”

Depp has not directed a movie since 1997’s The Brave, though he has helmed a number of music videos in the years since.

He last appeared on movie screens in 2023’s Jeanne du Barry. The movie does not yet have a U.S. release date.