Al Pacino, Johnny Depp to Reunite after 12 Years for Modigliani Biopic

On the eve of his acting return at the Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp has unveiled a buzzy first round of cast for Modi, his first directorial venture in 25 years.

The biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani will be led by screen icon Al Pacino, Italian star Riccardo Scamarcio, and Cesar Award winner Pierre Niney.

Production is due to get underway in Budapest this fall and the hot package is being sold at the Cannes market by The Veterans. Additional casting is underway.

Based on a play by Dennis McIntyre and adapted for the screen by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski, the film will tell the story of the famous painter and sculptor Modigliani during his time in Paris in 1916.

The movie will chronicle the life of the Italian artist across a turbulent and eventful 48 hours which sees him on the run from police through the streets and bars of war-torn Paris. His desire to prematurely end his career and leave the city is dismissed by fellow bohemians: French artist Maurice Utrillo, the Belarusian-born Chaim Soutine and his English muse and lover, Beatrice Hastings. 

Modi seeks advice from his Polish art dealer and friend Leopold Zborowski, but the chaos reaches a crescendo when he’s faced with a collector who could change his life.

Pacino is set to appear as international art collector Gangnat, Italian star Scamarcio will play the title role, and acclaimed French actor Niney has been cast as Utrillo.

The movie marks producer Barry Navidi’s fourth collaboration with Pacino whom he worked with on "The Merchant Of Venice" (2004), "Wilde Salomé" (2011), and "Salomé" (2013). 

Depp and Pacino also starred opposite each other in the 1997 crime movie "Donnie Brasco".

Navidi and IN.2 will produce alongside Depp. Local production in Budapest will be handled by Proton Cinema.

"Modigliani" will be Depp’s second feature directorial turn after 1997’s "The Brave", in which he also starred alongside Marlon Brando. He also directed several music videos for his ex-wife Vanessa Paradis.

Depp’s anticipated acting comeback movie "Jeanne du Barry" will open at Cannes next week. He will play King Louis XV in French director Maïwenn’s historical love story, marking his first movie in three years.