Johnny Depp’s Directorial Comeback “Modi” Hits U.S. Theaters This November
Johnny Depp is heading back to the director’s chair and his newest film is finally coming to U.S. theaters. On October 6, Johnny’s production company In.2 Film announced that Modi: Three Days on the Wings of Madness will hit select North American theaters on November 7. The film, distributed by Vertical, marks the actor’s first time directing a feature since 1997’s The Brave and only his second directing credit ever.
Based on Dennis McIntyre’s play, Modi tells the story of Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, whose bohemian lifestyle and artistic genius made him a legend in early 20th-century Paris. Riccardo Scamarcio stars as Modigliani, while Al Pacino plays art collector Maurice Gangnat. The film also features Antonia Desplat, Bruno Gouery, Ryan McParland and Benjamin Lavernhe.
Set in Paris in 1916, the story captures three intense days in the painter’s life. As war rages across Europe, Modigliani races through the bars and streets of Paris, desperate to leave the city behind. But when a wealthy collector appears and offers him a chance to change his fate, chaos and creativity collide.
A trailer released last October teased the film’s moody, fast-paced tone: a mix of art, madness and survival. “Modi takes audiences through a chaotic series of events through the streets and bars of war-torn Paris during World War I,” reads the official synopsis. “On the run from the police, Modi’s desire to end his career and leave the city is dismissed by fellow Bohemians. The chaos reaches a crescendo when he’s faced with a collector who could change his life.”
Johnny has described directing Modi as “an incredibly fulfilling and transformative experience.” In a statement, he said, “I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire cast, crew and producers for their unwavering commitment and creativity.”
The film holds special meaning for Johnny, not just as a creative comeback, but as a collaboration with Pacino, who personally urged him to take on the director role. “How could I refuse Pacino?” Johnny wrote earlier this year. “A sincere acknowledgment for generously contributing his talent and dedication to this project. Modi is a testament to the collaborative spirit of independent filmmaking…”
Production wrapped in Budapest in late 2023, and Johnny marked the occasion with a heartfelt note to the crew. “To my dear Modi film family, köszönöm for all your exceptional efforts without which this film could not have been made,” he wrote on Instagram. “Please accept my eternal admiration, appreciation, respect and love, JD.X.”
