Johnny Depp makes comeback in scandal-hit period drama

Actor signed up for the role before court cases involving ex-wife Amber Heard dragged out bitter accusations of domestic violence

Depp at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, promoting the 'Pirates' franchise. Photo: Andy Templeton

Depp backstage with members of the stage production of 'Edward Scissorhands' at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Technologik

Depp fired the bulk of his long-time representation in 2016 and sued many of them. Photo: Vanessa Lua

Depp and his 'Pirates of the Caribbean' co-star Penelope Cruz. Photo: Eric Charbonneau / WireImage

Depp reportedly punched a location manager on the set of 'City of Lies'. Photo: Celebrity ABC

'The Lone Ranger' was a Hollywood disaster on many levels. Photo: Inside the Magic

Depp's star began to fade years before his wife wrote an op ed for 'The Washington Post' on domestic abuse. Photo: Alli Kwong

Heard filed an order of protection against Depp after filing for divorce. Photo: Technologik

Depp has been an international star for more than 40 years. Photo: Loren Javier

Depp's film about Whitey Bulger underperformed at the box office. Photo: Asim Bharwani

Depp often plays with his band, the Hollywood Vampires, in small clubs in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Starbright31

Depp told the court that he would 'never damage his own finger' as he loves playing the guitar. Photo: Starbright31

Depp often played at his own club, the Viper Room. Photo: Starbright31

Depp appears at a Disney theme park. Photo: Loren Javier

Depp put his handprints and footprints at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Photo: Loren Javier

Depp's character from 'Dark Shadows' appears on the side of a building in New York. Photo: Brecht Bug

Depp was in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' but said he was forced to exit the franchise. Photo: Gage Skidmore

Johnny Depp with actor David Hasselhoff (C) and his long-time friend Bruce Witkin who testified on behalf of his ex-wife Amber Heard. Photo: Hollywood Vampires Facebook

Johnny Depp's comeback film is full of scandal both on screen and off, as he tests out his French in the role of King Louis XV.

There were rumours Depp only had a few minutes of screentime in Jeanne du Barry, which will make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday and has a nationwide release in France the same day.

But the 59-year-old actor is present for much of the film, even if his dialogue is kept to short phrases that help disguise his American accent.

Depp plays the 18th century monarch, who fell in love with a prostitute to the horror of much of his family and court.

He signed up for the role before the court cases involving ex-wife Amber Heard in which bitter accusations of domestic violence threatened to derail his career.

Maiwenn, the French star who directs and plays the lead role in Jeanne du Barry, admitted she was worried about the impact of the trials.

“The film was shot last summer and he was coming out of his second trial,” Maiwenn, who goes by a single name, told AFP.

“I had a lot worries. I was wondering: 'what will his image become?'”

But Maiwenn said she had no doubts about casting Depp.

“It was so clear [he was right for the role],” she said, though she approached two French actors first.

Depp gives an impressive physical performance — mostly through amused and imperious facial expressions — and his short bursts of dialogue suggest a decent level of French for the actor, who was previously married to French star Vanessa Paradis.

Johnny Depp performs with his band, Hollywood Vampires, at Hessentags-Arena in 2016 during the 56th Hessentag in Herborn, Germany. Getty Images

Depp attends the 'La Hija / The Daughter' premiere during last year's 69th San Sebastian Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain. Getty Images

Depp poses for photographers with his girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, in 1999 after he was honoured with the 2,149th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. Photo: Online USA / Newsmakers

Depp attends the Tokyo premiere of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' on July 10, 2006. Getty Images

American author and journalist Hunter S Thompson and Depp attend a book party at the Players Club in New York in 1997. Getty Images

Depp travels to Belgrade, Serbia, to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in 2021. Getty Images

Depp attends the 'Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane Macgowan' premiere during the 68th San Sebastian International Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain. Getty Images

Depp and actress Winona Ryder attend the 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 19, 1991, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images

Depp, Benicio Del Toro and model Kate Moss attend a screening of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' at the 51st Cannes film festival in 1998. AFP

Depp at the 'Alice In Wonderland' Tokyo premiere at Ebisu Garden Place. Getty Images

Depp lost his 2020 libel case in the UK against News Group Newspapers, publishers of 'The Sun', which called him a 'wife beater'. Getty Images

Depp attends the 'Minamata' photo call during the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany in 2020. Getty Images

Depp attends the 'Crock of Gold: A few Rounds with Shane McGowan' premiere in Zurich, Switzerland in 2020. Getty Images

Many still see Depp as a toxic figure, despite his victory in the last defamation trial against Heard, but he has already lined up his next film, directing Al Pacino in a biopic of artist Amedeo Modigliani.

Depp's trials are not the only scandal surrounding Jeanne du Barry, however.

In March, a well-known French journalist, Edwy Plenel of Mediapart, lodged a criminal complaint for assault against Maiwenn, accusing her of approaching him in a restaurant, grabbing him by the hair and spitting in his face.

Her film is a grand costume affair, shot in the Palace of Versailles, and its $20 million budget was partly funded by Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Foundation.