These are photos from the Tokyo Mortdecaiphotocall. It’s gotta be rough for Johnny Depp to promote this film after it failed so miserably stateside. But it’s hard to feel pity for a guy who claims a $20 million salary just to act weird. I haven’t found any concrete data on what Johnny banked for Mortdecai, but there are rumors that he reaped $10 million. That’s a step down, but it’s more than the movie made on opening weekend.
You probably won’t believe me when I say this, but there are few things I’d like to see than a Depp comeback. I give him a hard time because I remember how he used to take my breath away onscreen. He’s capable of more than donning a wacky moustache or dead-bird hat. Studios are still hypnotized by Johnny’s former successes, but audiences aren’t having it. Yes, he does still have a solid fanbase. People still love Johnny Depp. Audiences just don’t want to watch him act zany anymore. Even Tim Burton is trying to tell Johnny something. He’s not listening though, if this new report from Page Six is true. Johnny reportedly wants to ditch his longtime agent:
Johnny Depp could be about to part ways with his longtime agent to save his career after a series of box office flops, according to Hollywood rumors.
Depp — who has been with United Talent Agency’s Tracey Jacobs since she spotted him on 21 Jump Street in 1988 — is said to be devastated over his string of flops, including his latest, Mortdecai, and is considering how to move forward, with one source saying he has approached Scarlett Johansson and Leo DiCaprio’s manager Rick Yorn.
However, Depp’s spokeswoman Robin Baum said Tuesday night, “This is not correct information . . . this is not true.” While a source close to Yorn insisted he has not met with Depp, other Hollywood insiders suspect Depp could keep Jacobs on as his agent and install Yorn as his manager.
Depp, who isn’t known for following agents’ advice when choosing roles, expressed his appreciation for Jacobs in a 2005 letter to Variety.
“You believed in me when no one else did,” he said. “You stuck by me through great difficulties, ugliness and beauty while others turned away.”
And despite his recent recurrence of box office flops, Depp’s upcoming role as Whitey Bulger in Black Mass is gathering buzz as an awards and box office hit.
[From Page Six]
I kind of believe this story? Because when people spend so much energy telling us they “don’t give a f***,” the opposite is usually true. I think Johnny cares a lot whether he succeeds or fails. That’s normal. But Johnny doesn’t need a new agent. He needs a break. He needs to take a nice long trip to his private island and make us miss him.
I don’t think that Black Mass will be a comeback vehicle. This isn’t Johnny’s first time crime drama based on a real-life figure. He likes portraying these “misunderstood” villains almost as much as he likes piling on the makeup. He played George Jung in Blow and John Dillinger in Public Enemies. Both movies were okay, much better than Johnny’s current run. But it feels like Johnny’s simply playing dress up as Whitey Bulger. We’ll see.
P.S. Johnny refused to wash his hair for the Toyko premiere. Amber Heard looked lovely, and Johnny dripped grease. You can see those photos here.
Photos courtesy of Getty & WENN
Maybe he should just quit (not the agent, Johnny).
I don’t think he needs to quit. There is a place for Johnny Depp in Hollywood and in film. He is a really great actor. He just let the whole Pirates thing get to him. He proceeded to fall down the eccentric well. He needs to step back, take time off, and find smaller and quieter projects about normal people, normal things. No more big budget nonsense.
He kind of became the Pirates thing now it hard to separate him as an actor.
I think LB is right.
He got his reputation as a cool dude by taking smaller, ‘weird’ roles. Back in the day, most actors didn’t dare weird, but because he managed to pull it off, he was seen as anti-mainstream. When he therefore joined mainstream for too many movies (Pirates), he lost more of that cred with each movie.
Careerwise, exchanging Vanessa Paradis for a woman far younger than him, was also not a good move, as it made him seem even more like a loser mid-life crisis actor.
What he should do, imo, is stop acting for a while and focus on producing indie movies. He should look for young creative talents that otherwise wouldn’t get a chance, but can start making movies thanks to the money he puts up. Preferably not a Reginald whose pa already has connections in the biz.
It would be a way to get his cred back, make people miss him as an actor and make/create new contacts. He could even play a few supporting roles in movies like that and have people buzz about his acting talents again, without him looking like a caricature or money-hungry
This is genius.
Great advice LB and Flan. I’m going to recycle my comment on an earlier post:
“He just needs to become single (permanently or at least for a good decade and never hook up with a little girl again); concentrate on his kids, stop the alcohol and drugs i.e. clean up his act, and just be as modest as can be (that goes for his style). Everything else will come – hopefully. Surely this is better advice than any agent could give him.”
Plus what you guys said! It’s easy Johnny… you can do it!!!!!!
Great post, I agree.
Just because we’re old does that mean we have to dress conservatively? That’s pure ageist…if someone is a senior or a señorita scarify, then that’s it. I have been told to wear less necklaces, rings, etc, because i’m “old”. Does that mean I shouldn’t draw attention to my “old” ness? I find this whole critique deeply offensive and really…unattainable. I don’t have a preppy bone in my body and am most assuredly allergic to “modest” and age hasn’t /won’t change it. I’m not an alcoholic and I support myself and my child so MNAHHHhh in your face with my ringed hands and scarify-ness!!
its not really that he’s not dressing his age, its that he is not dressing right. His outfits looks ridiculous, on him or on someone younger and hipper. Get a new stylist. Wash his hair. Shower.. Please..
I’m in your camp, Homegrrrlll. Im not one for much jewellery, and I don’t follow the latest fashions – I dress how I like. Once a Punk, always a Punk. However, because of my job, I do sometimes ask my daughter, “Does this look ok? I don’t look like mutton dressed as lamb?” She always does the eye-roll and says, “No! You look awesome, mum!”
I couldn’t care less about Mr Depp’s “style”, but washing oneself, one’s hair etc., and looking and smelling clean is a no-brainer.
He won’t get 20 or even 10 million dollars for making an indie movie though and he’s all about money (for the kids!) so it’s not gonna happen.
I like it! And ditch Steven Tyler’s wardrobe, STAT!
Oh wtf…..I read he dropped out of the gangster movie….
….Did he really, that was my only hope for seeing him in a film….his recent films are too quirky for me….. I even got tired of the Pirate movies after #1
He should only dump Heard. The rest is not hopeless.
I’m just wondering what moron thought that “Mortdecai” would be a good movie…….
Tell me about it. How did they get Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow for this? That’s 3 in demand actors who were all convinced this movie was worth being in. Plus Paul Bettany and Jeff Goldblum are in it. Baffles me.
Exactly.
He needs to get out of the caricaturesque-over-the-top-characters stat.
That for me would be the only way to regain credibility.
+1 exactly….
I’ve been struggling too, and this is the best theory I’ve got: I’ve heard that Johnny was attached to Grand Budapest Hotel for awhile, in the role ultimately played by Ralph Fiennes. I’m wondering if the initial idea behind this film was also to try to tap into something very quirky and of-another-time, making it sound good on paper, and if the final script simply didn’t live up to anyone’s expectations.
iMO He needs to stop the quirky roles for awhile and…..
…..a movie title that I have to research to understand , I am not going to see. Period.
I actually think the gangster role he took on ,is going to bring his back to Major success and maybe even awards, when it comes out.
That gangster movie is what I’m waiting to go see him in, not sure when it’s coming out.
But it’s in the vein of Goodfella’s , true story about a mobster, great story.
Please add your stylist, John.
His styling is no one’s fault but his. He dresses like that on and off of the red carpet.
“Depp, who isn’t known for following agents’ advice when choosing roles…”
Perhaps he should consider following his agents’ advice for a while, too.
Exactly. His agent can only do so much, she can’t sign the paper for him. He needs to make better choices.
Nah. That might mean these flops are his own damn fault, and he’s a STAR so that can’t possibly be true.
Lainey’s post on this said that he probably thinks his recent movies flopped because we the public don’t understand him and his art. IMO, her theory’s probably not that far off, given that he does appear to have a pretentious streak (to be fair to him, a lot of Hollywood types do).
That’s what I was thinking – ultimately it’s his decision, and he’s decided to do some very awful roles/films in recent years.
He needs to step away from anything large budget or Disney related. Find some dark indie film where he can stretch his acting legs again.
Yes. Do a Robin Williams thing and ‘come out’ as a serious actor. Of course Robin Williams had TONS of charisma, and Johnny is lacking in that department, more and more.
LOVE this idea.. and co-sign on the Robin Williams comment, amazing analogy
The buck stops with him, though. He needs to make better choices and be more selective. Until he does that, a new agent won’t change anything.
Yes, I agree that audiences seem to have wacky-character fatigue with Depp. After this new Pirates he should take a serious look at the roles he is choosing and find his way back to Gilbert Grape, Blow, and even Secret Window territory. He is amazing and can do so much better.
After Alice in Wonderland, he lost me. I just got tired of quirky with him.
He’s a handsome guy, constantly hiding his looks and playing quirky, he needs to change it up.
I wonder if he’s just uncomfortable enough with himself (witness the drinking and some of his odd behaviors) that he sometimes needs to hide behind characters and their tics, makeup, wardrobe, accents, etc…Kate Winslet once said that playing in The Holiday was the scariest role she’d ever done because she was playing a modern British woman–no accents, no costumes, nothing to disappear in and that people would see ‘her’ more than other roles.
Even when the movies weren’t perfect (Secret Window) or very good (Nick of Time) there was something still appealing about Depp as an everyday guy caught up in extraordinary events. I think Black Mass will help him–if it gets great reviews, the box office won’t matter as much as bad movies bombing–but it’s still hiding behind some makeup and accents. Some actors, like Meryl Streep, can pull off accents without seeming actory but others it’s still seems like a disguise.
All his accessories remind me of when my 4-yr-old plays dress up.
Lol.
I can’t get past the accessories. They are always there — in abundance.
He needs to disappear for a year or two and change his approaching to choosing roles and get away from Tim Burton films. Quit going for just the zaniest roles and choose characters with some meat to them.
I used to adore him. Remember Benny & Joon, Gilbert Grape, Chocolat, Donnie Brasco – I loved that Johnny Depp.
He needs to make audiences forget what a caricature he has become.
I loved Benny and Joon!
Don’t forget Cry Baby, Edward Scissorhands, and Don Juan DeMarco. And Finding Neverland. He was my number one of all time throughout my teenage years, and it’s so sad to see him churning out crap movie after crap movie. He bought way too much into his own hype and forgot what it is to perform rather than just play dress-up and do a silly walk.
He was one hot gypsy in Chocolat. 🍫💋
Ah.., Benny and Joon! What an absolutely wonderful movie! I hope Johnny pulls himself together. It seems like he started falling apart when he split with Vanessa. He is so incredibly talented but he’s wasting it.
Ahh… Benny and Joon. He played a serious person who acted goofy, instead of a goofy person simply being himself.
Actors are people who make money entertaining people. When they forget that, it never goes well. IMO, of course.
He always had the potential to be a fabulous actor with a streak of real genius. He was wonderful in ‘The Libertine’ – he played John Rochester in the film that really should have earned him an Oscar nomination. He playing a notorious 18th century English poet/rake who defied a king and dies of syphilis. Sadly it was diametrically opposite to his ‘family man image’ so carefully constructed when he became a huge box office success in the Pirate’s franchise and the film was quietly buried. He was gearing up to be the finest character actor of his generation, despite all that beauty/charm/charisma and he’s pi**ed it up a wall. It’s all a wicked, wicked waste of a talent. It’s our loss as well as his. There are very few really great actors around and it looks like we’ve lost one.
Thanks for the recommendation! Speaking of syphilis, it is a truly horrific disease that people are still contracting at a frightening rate (doing a class in epidemiology). Just google ‘tertiary syphilis’ for an education.
I’m right with you, Bedhead. I really, really hope he finds his way back to what he once was. I’m sure that guy is still somewhere inside him. He just needs to let it out. He has the potential, and he definitely has the talent.
I can’t really believe his agent, or anyone else for that matter, has too much influence over Mr. Depp. He’s more a victim of his own colossal ego than anything else, ala Mike Meyers. Just because you think your “quirky” characters are cute doesn’t mean they’re interesting to anyone else, John.
I don’t believe for a second Johnny is “devastated” over his career. I think he’s doing exactly what he wants to do and playing the characters he wants to play.
What a pathetic middle aged moron. He’s been phoning it in for years and making millions. Poor Amber, she hopped on the wrong gravy train.
Did he kill one of your kittens? Amber looked happy with him in Japan. I’m sure she’s just fine.
He strangled my kitten with his scarf.
I’m beginning to suspect that you would be willing to kill some kittens on Johnny’s behalf.
Maybe stop showing up with the girl who no one cares about and pick a role that doesn’t require makeup?
Why is he so orange?
Johnny, we need to take a break. It’s not us, Johnny, it’s you.
I didn’t think the film looked “horrible” I thought it looked campy.. I saw a review that said if the film had been set in a different time period it may have worked more. I was also surprised by the R rating.
I think he needs to take a break and decide if he really wants to do this anymore. he has enough money to be very selective. he has enough clout to be selective. So maybe he has lost the passion for Acting and needs to pull back. Maybe he should produce some projects and not star it them. help some up and comer..
I’m actually starting to feel bad for him…
Me too,I hope he finds his way back. I’m not ready to give up on him yet.
Yeah, me too, for a little while now. I think he needs a hiatus.
Same.
Yes. That poor half a billionaire. So misguided and misunderstood.
You don’t think billionaires can suffer from mental or physical illnesses? Or have relationship problems?
Amazing.
Same here. I am starting to wonder if the drinking is impairing him mentally.
Holy midlife crisis! I would like to see him come back though.
Black Mass could help as it’s a “normal” person role. He needs to stay away from Tim Burton who indulges his cartoony side. I think he needs a very powerful name director who could wheel him in. He needs a Spielberg, or Nolan, or maybe even Tarantino, who are too powerful in their own right to bother with indulging him.
How did nobody see that Mortdecai was going to bomb? It looked terrible in the trailers!
Johnny Depp has had a long and pretty decent career, so it’s sort of hard to feel bad for him. He’ll always have Edward Scissorhands, etc. to be remembered for, as well as Jack Sparrow.
The one I feel bad for is Paul Bettany. That guy has really been struggling film-wise and this is just another blow to him. I wish that guy got better roles.
He needs to come back as a real human being on screen, not hide behind caricatures or extreme characters.
He needs to give up the makeup and accessories. Play a more average character, for a change.
Completely agree. It’d be nice to see after acting from the inside out wards again, instead of everything on the outside – make-up, whacky costumes, silly voices. On the other hand, I do wonder if we’ve actually seen all he’s got, and all the whacky stuff is just covering the fact that he shot his talent load a long time ago.
Depp is at a stage in his career where he has all the approval options–director, script, the way he is paid (up front and/or back end), so if he is having an issue with his career direction, then he is the one responsible. Most actors at his stage can walk away if they think the script stinks. I just get the impression that he does not even read them, at least with his eyes open. He once said he does whatever brings a pay check. He is rich enough not to worry about paychecks and should worry about what kinds of films he does. Of course, he could be perfectly happy making failure after failure, since he gets paid anyway. Don’t always buy tabloid gossip, but hopefully he is a big boy and takes responsibility for his own actions.
He has the choice and the means, if he wants, to go in a different direction. Hopefully, he will re-asses, as he has plenty of options.
Even if the script stinks I still think he would do the movie. He’s deliberately picking these eccentric and offbeat characters. That’s his thing now.
I’ve been really hard on him, but I agree that a comeback – a real, earned one following a great performance – would be really nice to see.
I don’t think his problem is necessarily his agent or his manager, but I also think that a change of personnel might be helpful. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of not listening to someone, it’s hard to change that pattern. With someone new, it might be easier for him to step back and listen to advice.
I think what might be good for him to try is to do another small movie like Finding Neverland, even if it means waiving his colossal fee. Everyone does that these days, I think. He hasn’t tried it since Rum Diary, and while that movie didn’t work out, that doesn’t mean another shot at it wouldn’t help things.
Part of what’s annoying about Johnny lately is his continued pose as bohemian rebel when in fact he’s as preoccupied with his image and staying young looking as JLo. About a year or two ago his fact suddenly looked full in that way peculiar to a heavy dose of fillers. After staying off the radar for a bit he reappeared looking remarkably like himself around age 40.
I don’t really have a problem with the need for upkeep, it’s understandable. It’s the pretense of being above it all that irks.
Lol!! Love the tags for this story!
This man is not well. I was looking at pics from November of last year (one of the links) and it is almost impossible to believe how swollen he has become in just a few months. The difference between the Mortdecai stills and the man at that photo call are stark.
Rather than worry about his career, he needs to start giving a damn about his life. Get help, Johnny.
He is so much more handsome as his Mortecai character.
I know it’s mostly his own fault but.. poor Johnny..
I agree that he needs to take a step back (or rather *away*) to rest, regroup, and get his head on straight. He’s so incredibly talented, and capable of so much more than what he’s been putting out there lately. You’ve still got it, Johnny. You just need to figure out where to find it again.
His fault for saying yes to do these silly movies, his agent can only suggest these to him surely. Better luck next time!
It is Johnny, not Angelina, that is the ‘camp event’ and people have finally woken up to the fact.
I figured he just rolled out of bed and put on whatever scarves and doo-dads he saw laying around. But he clearly packed them for Japan so I guess that look is deliberate?
oh please, doesn’t start criticizing his work as a Whitey Bulger when we haven’t seen not even a second from that movie. That’s the big problem on his career now, i’m sure many people talking about the flop of Mortdecai haven’t seen it yet and many of the same critics were criticizing since the first poster.
Just watch the movie or a trailer and then start to criticize
About Tracey, maybe he should fire her, but i doubt he will do it. He seems totally loyal to her, at most he will put some other asesor on his team, but i don’t think he’s parting ways with Tracey Jacobs
And he doesn’t seem affected. I watched some video from his press conference in japan and he was hilarious and in even better mood than in the rest of the promotion
Wash your hair and turn the hot back on, Johnny.
He can still be great again if he wants it, but I can’t like him like I used to. Dating a woman 20+ years younger is incredibly unattractive, and I say this as someone who’s 30 years younger than him.
John is a grown a## man with two kids. Instead of dressing like one of your children’s friend going through a rebellion period, grow the heck up, pull on your big boy underwear and act like an adult.
Read through the scripts, stop acting like a douche in public. Who’s going to put up with your crap when your not even pulling in the big bucks anymore.
And for God sake take a long hot shower. More sure to get all up in there with some Axe body wash. This is ridiculous, man.
^this. LOL.
Maybe the problem is
… If they pay me stupid money I am doing another Pirates.
He obviously doesn’t care, so why should I? BTW, I always thought he was terribly overrated as a actor, to me the guy is just phoney as hell.
Johnny Depp, study Bill Murray. Really.
The guy doesn’t have an agent, and answers calls himself if he’s interested in a role.
He’s an eccentric, and he’s genuine. He’s effortlessly and naturally what you are trying so hard to be. The truth is that you are a complete and total sell out, a chaser, a wannabe and everyone knows it.
Clearly isn’t very healthy right now. How much has he gained in the last couple of months? He has always been very svelte, but now all the buttons are stretching on his coat and his face is so bloated. Amber Heard needs to get the hell away from him. She will never be taken seriously while she’s on his arm-everyone will always think she is trying f*** her way to the top, even if her intentions are good (I personally find her unwatchable.) I’m sure like everyone else in their twenties, she grew up watching him and she thinks he’s amazing and there’s some sort of mentor/protege angle in their relationship, but the whole thing is a little like A Star is Born.
While he should be respected as a great actor, he’s clearly having a moment and needs to step back. I can’t even blame Tim Burton because he seems like he’s realizing he’s become too Burton-esque. Even Marlon Brando had the ability to destroy his own career. The guy needs to go to rehab and dry out.
I’ve always felt bad for him. I see more than a midlife crisis here or poor career choices.
As other people have pointed out, I think what he needs is a break from everything. Hollywood is not where he needs to be right now. He needs to take a breath of fresh air (and a shower) and figure out what’s going on with his life and what he’ll do about it.
Of course he gives a f*ck what we think of him – his career revolves around how many people are willing to watch his movies. He went from being one of Hollywood’s most likeable hearthrobs to a complete joke that lost all of it’s charm. Of course he feels bad, he should. But he’s got money, so he’ll be fine if he wants to.
He needs a long shower and Winona Ryder. The end.
Definitely needs to take a bath at least twice a week, stop the pot and booze, start going to the gym again or do hot yoga and dump the first-grader girlfriend. Maybe start working with indie-directors again like Jim Jarmusch and make flicks like “Dead Man” again.
I just read that he failed to show up for a press conference in Japan because he was attacked by a Chupacabra (his own words), but that he fought it off and threw it out a 23rd floor window.
LMAO 🙂 🙂 🙂
At this point it might take a real chupacabra attack to resuscitate his career.
Frankly I’d just be happy if he stopped wearing so many damn accessories…
What was he thinking with Mortdecai? This is clearly an Austen Powers rip-off. Casting Depp and Paltrow in comedy is ridiculous. They both suck at it.
As the article states, he doesn’t go after scripts because his agent picks them for him and he has been very loyal to Jacobs, unless something recently happened to change that. This part of the article may be the key: “Depp could keep Jacobs on as his agent and install Yorn as his manager.” His present manager is his sister, who is also President of his production company, Infinitum Nihil, which helped produce, in addition to the successful Hugo, The Rum Diary and Mortdecai. Maybe his sister, who is a little older than he is, has decided to retire and/or they’ve decided to ditch the production company.