Washington [US], May 11 : Johnny Depp has revealed the cast for 'Modi', his first directorial effort in 25 years.
The biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigli will be led by Italian star Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick Chapter 2), Cesar Award winner Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) and screen icon Al Pacino (The Godfather), reported Deadline.
The shoot of the film will commence in Budapest this Fall. The hot package is being sold at the Cannes market by The Veterans. The additional casting of the film is underway.
Based on a play by Dennis McIntyre and adapted for the screen by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski, the film will tell the story of the famous painter and sculptor Modigli during his time in Paris in 1916, reported Deadline.
The movie will chronicle the life of the Italian artist across a turbulent and eventful 48 hours which sees him on the run from police through the streets and bars of war-torn Paris. His desire to prematurely end his career and leave the city is dismissed by fellow bohemians: French artist Maurice Utrillo, the Belarusian-born Chaim Soutine and his English muse and lover, Beatrice Hastings. Modi seeks advice from his Polish art dealer and friend Leopold Zborowski, but the chaos reaches a crescendo when he's faced with a collector who could change his life.
Italian star Scamarcio, known for roles in movies including The Best of Youth, Paolo Sorrentino's Loro, John Wick: Chapter 2, Nanni Moretti's Tre Pi and Romanzo Criminale, will play the title role.
Acclaimed French actor Niney, known for movies such as Yves Saint Laurent and Frantz, has been cast as Utrillo, while Pacino set to appear as international art collector Gangnat.
Depp and Pacino also starred in the 1997 crime flick Donnie Brasco.
Nicola Pecorini (The Legend of Don Quixote) has joined as director of photography, Andrew Sanders and John Beard will lead production design and Penny Rose (Pirates of the Caribbean) will handle costumes.
Modigli will be Depp's second feature directorial turn after 1997's The Brave, in which he also starred alongside Marlon Brando. He also directed several music videos for his ex-wife Vanessa Paradis.
Depp's anticipated acting comeback film 'Jeanne du Barry' will open the Cannes Film Festival next week.
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