After his latest picture has yet to be released in the United States, Johnny Depp has claimed that he is being boycotted by Hollywood.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times about his new picture Minamata, the actor claims that his public image is preventing the film from being shown in US theaters. In the 1970s, photojournalist W. Eugene Smith (played by Depp) documents the consequences of industrial pollution on the citizens of Minamata.
Depp told the newspaper that he "looked [those] people in the eyeballs" and assured that the film would not exploit the real-life tragedy.
“Some films have an impact on people... and this has an impact on those in Minamata and people who have similar experiences,” Depp told The New York Times. “And for what... the boycott of, erm, me by Hollywood? Over the previous few years, one individual, one actor in an unpleasant and chaotic situation?”
According to The Times, it is the first interview Depp has given to the press since his libel action against News Group Newspapers, the proprietors of The Sun, which he finally lost. The actor sued News Group Newspapers and The Sun executive editor Dan Wootton in April 2018 over a story in which he was referred to as a "wife-beater" regarding allegations from ex-wife Amber Heard, which Depp has strenuously refuted.
For the interview, the Times also met with Minamata director Andrew Levitas. Last month, the filmmaker said that MGM had refused to release Minamata in the United States due to the public outcry around Depp.
“The film must be seen and supported,” Levitas told The New York Times.
“And if I have any reason to believe it won't be, it's my responsibility to say so. What happens after that? I'm not sure. However, we have responsibility for these victims...”
MGM confirmed in a statement released in late July that "Minamata continues to be among future [American International Pictures] releases, and the film's US release date is TBA at this time."
After receiving controversy, the San Sebastian Film Festival defended its choice to give Depp the honorary Donostia Award earlier this month.
“In these times, when social media lynching is rampant, we will always defend two basic principles that are part of our culture and our body of laws: the presumption of innocence and the right to reintegration,” festival director José Luis Rebordinos said in a statement.
