Johnny Depp to Play War Photographer W. Eugene Smith in 'Minamata'
8:26 AM PDT 10/23/2018 by Alex Ritman
The film will document how Smith and his wife helped expose the devastating annihilation of a Japanese coastal community by big business and pollution.
Johnny Depp is set to play celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith in upcoming drama Minamata.
Based on the book by Smith and his wife, Aileen Mioko Smith, and adapted for screen by David K. Kessler, the film is being directed by Andrew Levitas, and is being billed as a "real life David versus Goliath story," pitting Smith against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, a Japanese fishing village, in 1971.
With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But an old friend and a commission from “Life Magazine” editor Ralph Graves convince Smith to journey back to Japan to expose a big story: the devastating annihilation of a coastal community, victims of corporate greed and complicit local police and government.
The victims’ case against the corporation responsible for this environmental disaster represents one of the biggest payouts of all time, with present-day sufferers of Minamata disease still in court today seeking compensation. Production has spent time in Minamata meeting some of the victims and their families and the film will be made with their support.
“Working with Johnny to give voice to those who have been silently suffering is a responsibility we do not take lightly" said Levitas. "Much like Eugene Smith in 1971, we could not feel more privileged or humbled to be tasked with the mission of bringing this incredible story to the world."
HanWay Films will handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at the American Film Market. CAA Media Finance will handle U.S. rights.
"Eugene Smith's personal redemptive story arc is really human and touching as he opens up and connects to the people in front of his camera," said HanWay managing director Gabrielle Stewart. "His story is extremely relevant as it explores how a powerful image can spur the world into action. It was the image of the Syrian boy found dead on a Turkish beach that galvanized Europe into facing the refugee crisis; we still remember the impact of the Tank Man of the Tiananmen Square photograph; and Eugene Smith's Minamata photograph Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath."
Minamata is being developed by Depp’s production entity Infinitum Nihil and is produced by Sam Sarkar (No Place Like Home), Bill Johnson (Killing Them Softly, The Kids are Alright) and Andrew Levitas (Georgetown, The White Crow, Farming). Jason Forman and Stephen Deuters will executive produce. Heads of department include Cesar Award-nominated cinematographer Benoit Delhomme (The Theory of Everything, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, A Most Wanted Man), production designer Tom Foden (Mirror Mirror, The Village, One Hour Photo) and Kevan Van Thompson (JoJo Rabbit) who line produces and executive produces.
Minamata will start principal production in Japan followed by Serbia in January 2019.
I know we're not supposed to like Johnny Depp anymore but personal life aside, he's still a good actor and I tend to like him a lot in these smaller, more character-driven roles. Hoping for the best here.
First Look: Johnny Depp as War Photographer W. Eugene Smith in 'Minamata'
10:30 AM PST 1/31/2019 by Mia Galuppo
Bill Nighy has boarded the feature from director Andrew Levitas.
In a first-look image for Minamata, Johnny Depp is featured as war photographer W. Eugene Smith.
Andrew Levitas is directing from a screenplay by David K. Kessler, who adapted the book by Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith.
As production commences, Bill Nighy has also joined the cast, which also includes Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase and Jun Kunimura.
The redemptive thriller sees Smith (Depp) take on a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan, in 1971. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But an old friend and a commission from Life magazine editor (Nighy) convinces him to journey back to Japan to expose a big story: the devastating annihilation of a coastal community.
Depp will produce via his Infinitum Nihil banner, along with Sam Sarkar and Levitas under his Metalwork Pictures banner and Gabrielle Tana. Jason Forman, Stephen Deuters, Peter Watson, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Gabrielle Stewart, Stephen Spence, Peter Touche, Norman Merry, Kevan Van Thompson and Peter Hampden will executive produce.
HanWay Films is handling international sales and distribution on Minamata, which will continue in Berlin during EFM next week. CAA Media Finance will handle U.S. rights.
The film is probably going to be bad, but for those interested in the subject matter, do not miss to see Noriaki Tsuchimoto's fine documentary Minamata (1971).
Johnny Depp Claims He Is Being Boycotted By Hollywood, Worries About ‘Minamata’ Release
A Sunday Times interview with Johnny Depp featured a claim by the 58-year-old actor that he is being “boycotted by Hollywood.”
In the interview, published on Saturday in the UK, Depp spoke out about where he stands with the industry and his film, Minamata, which is just being released in the UK. Depp stars in the drama as the photojournalist Eugene Smith. The film is directed by Andrew Levitas.
Depp’s film has yet to be released in the US. Director Lewis has claimed MGM is “burying” the movie because of Depp’s legal matters. MGM has claimed the film is still on its future release schedule, but has not set a date for it. Depp said the film deserves to be seen, no matter his personal issues.
“We looked these people in the eyeballs and promised we would not be exploitative,” he said of Minamata. “That the film would be respectful. I believe that we’ve kept our end of the bargain, but those who came in later should also maintain theirs.”
“Some films touch people,” he added. “And this affects those in Minamata and people who experience similar things. And for anything… For Hollywood’s boycott of me? One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years?”
The interview claimed that Depp trailed off, then added, “But, you know, I’m moving towards where I need to go to make all that… To bring things to light.”
He gets paid to act, not memorise lines. While it may appear self indulgent or lazy on his part (and I guess it is), what does it matter if he needs his lines fed to him so long as he delivers a good/great performance? Is Michael Gambon a shitty actor now that he's getting on a bit and can't memorise his lines like he used to?
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Minamata | Johnny Depp Stars as Photographer W. Eugene Smith
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