News just broke that Al Pacino will headline the cast of Johnny Depp’s second outing as director Fashionan ode to Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, who will be played by Italian star Riccardo Scarmacio, recently John Wick fame.
Pacino, who played alongside Depp in the 1997s Donnie Brasco and was announced as a co-producer for Fashion Last yearwill embody the famous collector Maurice Gangnat. Yves Saint Laurent star Pierre Niney will play Modigliani’s friend, French artist Maurice Utrillo.
Al Pacino and Johnny Depp filming Donnie Brasco in New York, 1996. Photo: Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma via Getty Images.
Casting news comes before Depp’s controversial return to the coveted opening slot of the Cannes Film Festival, where it will promote historical romance Jeanne du Barryhis first role in three years following the Depp v. hearing. THE Fashion will sell his project at Cannes before production begins in Budapest this fall, marking Depp’s first directorial credits since The brave 25 years ago (and with the exception of several clips he made for musicians including his ex-wife Vanessa Paradis).
Fashion is not a biopic. The screenplay is based on Dennis McIntyre’s play, which runs for just 48 hours. “On the run from the police, Modi’s desire to end his career and leave town is rejected by his fellow bohemians,” reads his synopsis. “Modi seeks advice from his Polish art dealer and friend Leopold Zborowski, but the chaos comes to a head when he is confronted with a collector who could change his life.
Amedeo Modigliani in his studio, 1910s. Private collection. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
In real life, Modigliani moved from Venice to Paris in 1906, where he became part of the city’s bohemian scene alongside Utrillo and writer Beatrice Hastings, Modigliani’s first English muse. Modigliani painted his iconic reclining portraits mostly between 1916 and 1919, a year before he died of tuberculosis at age 35.
Although some avant-garde aficionados like author Paul Alexandre patronized the artist during his lifetime, Modigliani’s work only achieved fame after his death and continued to inspire artists like Margaret Keen.
“It’s a snapshot of Modigliani’s life that gives us insight into his struggle as an artist suffering from a lack of recognition, and a project that Al and I have been pursuing for many years,” said the producer Barry Navidi. Deadline. “Our amazing cast, coupled with the vision, spirit and sensibilities that I know Johnny will bring behind the camera, will make that dream a reality.”
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