Cannes director speaks out on controversial decision for Johnny Depp movie opening film festival

The director of Cannes Film Festival has spoken out about Johnny Depp's new movie, Jeanne du Barry, opening the festival.

You can check out the trailer for the film here:

Just a year ago, the world was watching as the Pirates of The Caribbean star took his ex-wife, Amber Heard, to court.

Depp sued the Aquaman actor over comments she made in an op-ed in The Washington Post, which stated she was a victim of domestic abuse.

Now, while the article didn't name Depp, he claimed that it could be easily inferred who Heard was talking about.

And he filed a lawsuit for $50 million over loss of earnings and damage to his reputation, with Heard counter-suing the 59-year-old for $100m.

However, in the end, Depp won the case, with the jury awarding him $15m in damages and Heard just $2m.

Associated Press/Alamy

Following the result, Heard came in for a huge backlash from people online, with many Depp fans calling her a liar.

In statement, she said: "I'm sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly."

And despite the hopes of appealing the decision, Heard decided not to, saying she couldn't go through another trial.

Depp, on the other hand, went straight into a rock tour and then production of his first movie since the trial, the period drama Jeanne du Barry.

Written by Maïwenn and Teddy Lussi-Modeste, the film stars Depp as Louis XV and Maïwenn as Madame du Barry.

Other cast members include Pierre Richard, Noémie Lvovsky, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pascal Greggory and India Hair

Le Pacte

The official synopsis reads: "Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure [who] uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one."

The fact Depp was able to get a leading role so soon after the court case left some feeling a bit uncomfortable.

And questions were raised recently as to why it was chosen to open the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.

Well, speaking to Variety ahead of the May event, festival director, Thierry Fremaux, said he didn't understand the problem.

“I don’t see Maïwenn’s film as a controversial choice at all, because if Johnny Depp had been banned from working it would have been different, but that’s not the case,” he told the outlet.

“We only know one thing, it’s the justice system and I think he won the legal case. But the movie isn’t about Johnny Depp.."