Lionsgate has started production on “Day Drinker,” sharing a first-look image at Johnny Depp as he makes his return to Hollywood following high-profile legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard.
The film from “500 Days of Summer” and “Snow White” director Marc Webb re-teams Depp and Penélope Cruz for a fourth time after previous collaborations on “Blow,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” Madelyn Cline also stars in the film. Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto and Anika Boyle round out the cast.
“Day Drinker” tells the story of a private-yacht bartender (Cline) who encounters a mysterious, onboard guest (Depp). They soon find themselves entangled with a criminal figure (Cruz) and connected in ways no one saw coming.
The film, which begins production in Spain, is produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, who produce the “John Wick” franchise for Lionsgate; Adam Kolbrenner, producer of “The Tomorrow War,” “Free Guy” and “Prisoners”; and Zach Dean, who also wrote the original screenplay. Kolbrenner and Dean’s film “The Gorge” was recently released by Apple TV+/Skydance.
“Day Drinker” is executive produced by 30WEST. Lionsgate will present “Day Drinker” in association with 30WEST. The film is a Thunder Road / IN.2 production.
The film’s executive producers include Dan Friedkin, Micah Green, Daniel Steinman, Stephen Deuters, Jason Forman, Sam Sarkar, Webb, Eric Sherman, Sarah Hong, Scott LaStaiti, Christopher Woodrow, Connor DiGregorio and Adrián Guerra.
“I’m excited to be starting production with Johnny, Madelyn, Penelope, and this incredible cast,” said Webb. “We’re in a beautiful location with a fantastic crew and a thrilling, ferocious story to tell. This is gonna be fun.”
Webb’s production team includes director of photography Javier Aguirresarobe, ASC, AEC, production designer Jan Roelfs, editor Doc Crotzer, ACE, costume designer Penny Rose, and casting directors Hannah Ashby Ward and Alejandro Gil.
Chelsea Kujawa is overseeing the project for Lionsgate. The deals for Ríos, Piper, Botto and Boyle were overseen for the studio by Dan Freedman.
The film marks the second recent collaboration between Lionsgate and 30WEST, who are also teaming for “Power Ballad,” directed by John Carney, written by Carney and Peter McDonald, and starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas.
Depp is represented by Range Media Partners and attorney Lisa Nitti. Cline is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, imPRint, Bold Talent Agency and Hirsch Wallerstein. Cruz is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Kuranda Management. Webb is represented by CAA and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Dean is represented by CAA, Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment Group and attorney Andrew Hurwitz. Ríos is represented by CRAM Talent and WME. Piper is represented by UTA and Kuranda. Botto is represented by Gersh and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.
