Does Johnny Depp's $20 Million Dior Deal Mean He's Un-Canceled Now?
As he approaches his Cannes appearances, Depp's career seems to be on the rise once more.
Johnny Depp was once among Hollywood's most recognizable, beloved, and marketable stars, thriving in every genre as everyone's favorite actor. After a tumultuous few years, highlighted by allegations of abuse against his ex-wife, Depp has just signed a massive deal with Dior, proving that he may just be uncancellable.
After standing by Depp through his legal battle with Amber Heard, Dior just announced that they'd signed him to a three-year deal worth at least $20 million.
That passes Robert Pattinson's $12 million with Dior Homme for the highest ad contract ever for a men's fragrance brand. For reference, most celebrity fragrance contracts pull in around $2-$4 million, according to Variety.
This all comes on the heels of his successful defamation suit against Heard, who claimed he beat her in a Washington Post op-ed in 2018. He was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages, capped by the state at $350,000.
The Virginia trial was live-streamed, becoming one of the most newsworthy events of 2022 - leading to a poorly-received TV movie about the subject. Ultimately, neither party looked good after the proceedings.
Depp's career had been effectively put on hold throughout the controversy, which began years before. He'd lost his fan-favourite Disney role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which reportedly lost him more than $22 million. He also lost his role in Fantastic Beasts, and only appeared in a couple of independent dramas.
In 2020, the Hollywood Reporter called him 'radioactive' thanks to his erratic behavior and his 'unquenchable thirst for revenge.' In the industry, he was considered a persona non-grata. But after his successful trial against Heard in 2022, much of the public has been welcoming him back, and the contract with Dior may be a sign that his career is back on an upward trajectory.
He was cast as King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry, set to premiere at Cannes this week. He'll be making a public appearance at Cannes, also promoting his film Modi - his first directorial feature since 1997.
On Reddit, some fans are pleased with the return of Depp, labeling him a victim of Heard's emotional and physical abuse. Some question the motives of this announcement, saying he's simply trying to distract people from his recent involvement with Saudi Arabia, with whom he'd partnered in producing Jeanne du Barry.
Still, other fans are wondering why he'd be at the forefront of a luxury fragrance brand: 'He looks like he smells like stale cigarettes and sour wine.'
Either way, it's clear that, once again, cancel culture proves itself to only be a temporary setback for Hollywood's biggest stars.
Source: Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Reddit.