Johnny Depp's Stunning Transformation Rocks New Thriller 'Day Drinker'

Olivia Bennett, 4/15/2025Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood with a striking transformation in "Day Drinker," a psychological thriller co-starring Penélope Cruz. Directed by Marc Webb, this sun-drenched tale hints at luxury and danger, promising an engaging narrative for 2025's moviegoers. Production is underway in Spain.

The occasion? Lionsgate's upcoming psychological thriller "Day Drinker" — and honestly, you couldn't script this kind of delicious irony if you tried.

After that courthouse spectacle that dominated our social feeds through 2022, Depp isn't just dipping his toe back into the Hollywood pool — he's doing a full cannonball. The project reunites him with the eternally enchanting Penélope Cruz (their fourth collaboration, if anyone's counting), and introduces "Outer Banks" breakout Madelyn Cline into their orbit. The chemistry between Depp and Cruz has always sizzled on screen, from their "Blow" days to that delightfully twisted "Murder on the Orient Express" remake.

Marc Webb's at the helm, and he's practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. "We're in a beautiful location with a fantastic crew and a thrilling, ferocious story to tell," he gushed at last month's Sundance panel. Sure, Marc — when was the last time a director didn't claim their project was "thrilling"? But with this cast... he might actually be onto something.

Picture this: a sun-drenched Mediterranean yacht, a mysterious passenger with questionable motives, and a bartender who should've stuck to mixing drinks instead of mixing with danger. It's giving strong "The Talented Mr. Ripley" energy, but with a modern twist that feels perfectly timed for 2025's obsession with luxury true crime. (Speaking of which, has anyone else noticed how many yacht-based thrillers we're getting this year?)

The supporting cast reads like a who's who of international talent. Netflix's "Elite" heartthrobs Manu Ríos and Arón Piper are bringing their considerable fan bases along for the ride, while theater darling Anika Boyle makes her screen debut fresh off her triumph in the West End's "Stranger Things: The First Shadow."

Thunder Road (yeah, the "John Wick" people) is producing, which probably means we're in for some gorgeously choreographed mayhem. They've brought back costume designer Penny Rose — because who else could make Depp look this iconic? Her work on the "Pirates" franchise basically defined an era of costume design.

Look, some might side-eye the choice to cast Depp in another project involving alcohol — especially after "The Rum Diary" and... well, everything that followed. But there's something undeniably compelling about this particular combination of talent, location, and timing. Whether it's redemption he's after or simply a reminder of his considerable acting chops, Depp seems determined to make 2025 his year.

Production's currently underway in Spain, with those first-look photos causing quite the stir on social media last week. If the glimpses we've seen are any indication, "Day Drinker" might just be the sophisticated thriller we've been craving in this era of endless superhero sequels and AI-generated content.

Remember what they say about second acts in American lives? Well, darlings, this one's shaping up to be absolutely intoxicating.

Well, darlings, Hollywood's prodigal son is staging quite the comeback. Johnny Depp — yes, that Johnny Depp — has emerged from his headline-making hiatus with a transformation that's left the industry buzzing. Gone are the eccentric scarves and bohemian layers; in their place stands a distinguished gentleman sporting a salt-and-pepper beard and those mesmerizing blue eyes that first captured audiences decades ago.The occasion? Lionsgate's upcoming psychological thriller "Day Drinker" — and honestly, you couldn't script this kind of delicious irony if you tried.After that courthouse spectacle that dominated our social feeds through 2022, Depp isn't just dipping his toe back into the Hollywood pool — he's doing a full cannonball. The project reunites him with the eternally enchanting Penélope Cruz (their fourth collaboration, if anyone's counting), and introduces "Outer Banks" breakout Madelyn Cline into their orbit. The chemistry between Depp and Cruz has always sizzled on screen, from their "Blow" days to that delightfully twisted "Murder on the Orient Express" remake.Marc Webb's at the helm, and he's practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. "We're in a beautiful location with a fantastic crew and a thrilling, ferocious story to tell," he gushed at last month's Sundance panel. Sure, Marc — when was the last time a director didn't claim their project was "thrilling"? But with this cast... he might actually be onto something.Picture this: a sun-drenched Mediterranean yacht, a mysterious passenger with questionable motives, and a bartender who should've stuck to mixing drinks instead of mixing with danger. It's giving strong "The Talented Mr. Ripley" energy, but with a modern twist that feels perfectly timed for 2025's obsession with luxury true crime. (Speaking of which, has anyone else noticed how many yacht-based thrillers we're getting this year?)The supporting cast reads like a who's who of international talent. Netflix's "Elite" heartthrobs Manu Ríos and Arón Piper are bringing their considerable fan bases along for the ride, while theater darling Anika Boyle makes her screen debut fresh off her triumph in the West End's "Stranger Things: The First Shadow."Thunder Road (yeah, the "John Wick" people) is producing, which probably means we're in for some gorgeously choreographed mayhem. They've brought back costume designer Penny Rose — because who else could make Depp look this iconic? Her work on the "Pirates" franchise basically defined an era of costume design.Look, some might side-eye the choice to cast Depp in another project involving alcohol — especially after "The Rum Diary" and... well, everything that followed. But there's something undeniably compelling about this particular combination of talent, location, and timing. Whether it's redemption he's after or simply a reminder of his considerable acting chops, Depp seems determined to make 2025 his year.Production's currently underway in Spain, with those first-look photos causing quite the stir on social media last week. If the glimpses we've seen are any indication, "Day Drinker" might just be the sophisticated thriller we've been craving in this era of endless superhero sequels and AI-generated content.Remember what they say about second acts in American lives? Well, darlings, this one's shaping up to be absolutely intoxicating.