A first trailer for Johnny Depp’s upcoming movie Day Drinker seems to include several knowing nods at the star’s bid for career revival.
Due in 2027, Day Drinker is Depp’s second upcoming project to be backed by a major studio, following hot on the heels of Ebeneezer, a starry retelling of Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol that arrives in theaters this November.
While Depp has been busy with a few smaller projects, the Pirates of the Caribbean star has not appeared in a mainstream Hollywood movie for years, following a series of high-profile legal battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Now, however, Depp appears to be mounting a comeback, via movies which feel well chosen for his current status. In Ebeneezer, Depp will play a hated figure who learns the error of his ways and ultimately ends up beloved by all. And in this first look at Day Drinker, Depp plays a mysterious alcoholic who seems to become entangled with the law while helping expose a criminal operation.
“I’ve made a living out of misbehaviour,” Depp’s character says in the trailer as he’s cuffed and forced to the ground, before he affords the camera a little smile. “I see no tangible reason to stop now. Don’t you sometimes want to misbehave?
“My story? Perhaps it’s a tale of revenge,” Depp’s character continues, apparently in an Irish accent. “Or perhaps something worse. What if all this is a ghost story? Or maybe I’m just another day drinker.”
“You thought I was f***ing done?” he concludes at the trailer’s end. “I’m done when I say I’m done.”
Day Drinker stars Depp as the eponymous alcoholic, alongside Madelyn Cline and Penelope Cruz. Noteworthy talent behind the camera includes The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb (looking for his own comeback after helming Disney’s widely-panned live-action Snow White), and Fast X co-writer Zach Dean. The movie is currently set to launch on March 26, 2027.
One of the big questions surrounding Depp is whether he’d return for a potential new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Last month, Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer reignited hope of Depp reprising his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow one more time while issuing a fresh update on Disney’s long-in-development plans for Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Bruckheimer confirmed that conversations were underway with Depp for the actor to potentially return as the infamous pirate.
Bruckheimer has long expressed interest in Depp donning his Captain Jack Sparrow costume once again, even when it seemed unlikely, as Disney mulled other, alternative routes forward for the franchise. Depp’s past legal issues with Heard saw Disney largely distance itself from the star, leading to some choice words from Depp in response. Meanwhile, long-gestating plans have placed Barbie star Margot Robbie at the forefront of Pirates 6 if and when it does ever materialize.
Image credit: Lionsgate/YouTube.
