Hollywood icon Johnny Depp is officially back in the spotlight with his first major studio film since 2020. Lionsgate has unveiled a striking first look at Depp in Day Drinker, a psychological thriller currently filming in Spain. The film, directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), features an ensemble cast led by Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz, and marks a high-profile return to Hollywood for Depp after years of legal and public controversy.
Depp Reunites With Cruz in Thriller Set Aboard a Yacht
Set aboard a luxurious private yacht, Day Drinker follows a bartender (played by Madelyn Cline) who encounters a mysterious guest named Kelly (Depp). As their paths intertwine, the plot unfolds into a tense thriller involving a dangerous criminal figure portrayed by Cruz. The story promises layers of suspense and unexpected revelations as the characters’ secrets begin to unravel.
Depp and Cruz have previously shared the screen in Blow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Murder on the Orient Express, making Day Drinker their fourth cinematic collaboration. The new film offers fans a chance to see the duo reunited in an entirely different kind of narrative setting — a sleek, sun-drenched thriller with noir undercurrents.
New Faces Join the Cast of Day Drinker
The cast of Day Drinker includes several rising international talents. Manu Rios and Arón Piper, who rose to fame through the hit Netflix series Elite, reunite on screen in this feature. Juan Diego Botto, known for The Suicide Squad and En los márgenes (On the Fringe), brings further depth to the ensemble. Anika Boyle, who recently played Alice Creel in the West End stage hit Stranger Things: The First Shadow, rounds out the supporting cast.
Lionsgate and 30West Partner Again for High-Profile Projects
Day Drinker is produced by Thunder Road Films’ Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, alongside Adam Kolbrenner and screenwriter Zach Dean. Executive production comes from 30West, a financing and advisory company known for backing bold storytelling. This marks their second collaboration with Lionsgate after the upcoming music comedy Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, directed by Sing Street’s John Carney.
Depp’s Comeback After European-Focused Projects
Day Drinker is being closely watched as a potential commercial comeback for Depp, whose career hit turbulence following his high-profile divorce and legal battles with Amber Heard. After being dropped from Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2020, Depp has since worked on European productions, including the French historical drama Jeanne du Barry, where he portrayed King Louis XV, and his directorial project Modi, based on the life of artist Amedeo Modigliani.
While those films leaned into art-house territory, Day Drinker positions Depp for a return to wide-release prominence in American cinemas. With a gripping premise, stylish direction, and a cast blending Hollywood prestige with rising stars, the thriller is poised to generate significant buzz ahead of its release.