Johnny Depp faces awkward reunion with Mads Mikkelsen

Johnny Depp faces awkward red carpet reunion with Mads Mikkelsen at opening night of the Cannes Film Festival after Danish actor replaced him in Fantastic Beasts franchise

Johnny Depp faced an awkward run in with his Fantastic Beasts replacement Mads Mikkelsen at opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star, 59, took to the red carpet for the premiere of his new movie Jeanne du Barry, marking his first screen appearance following his highly publicised libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Johnny was forced to quit the wizarding franchise in 2020 at the request of production company Warner Bros amid his legal woes.

Following the uproar Danish actor Mads, 57, took over the role as villainous Gellert Grindelwald for the third saga, 2022’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

But on Tuesday, Johnny donned his best tuxedo and couldn’t hide his delight about being back in the Hollywood fold. 

Back in the spotlight: Johnny Depp (pictured) faced an awkward run in with his Fantastic Beasts replacement Mads Mikkelsen at opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

Replacement: Johnny was forced to quit the wizarding franchise in 2020 at the request of production company Warner Bros during the trial – with Mads (pictured) replacing him as the villainous Gellert Grindelwald

Double trouble: Mads (left, pictured in 2022’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) opted for a very different look when he took over from Johnny (right, pictured in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald ) 

The actor looked suave in a double breasted jacket which he layered over a crisp white shirt and completed the look with a pocket square.

Johnny slicked his raven locks back into a ponytail and sported a whole host of jewellery for the evening.

Meanwhile Mads donned an all black ensemble as he attended alongside wife Hanne Jacobsen, who stunned in a bright pink tailored suit.

The couple put on a loved up display and seemed to ignore any sense of awkwardness as they risked running into Johnny.

This year’s festival promises a Cote d’Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days. 

It’s unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival’s main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless. 

Glad to be back: But on Tuesday, Johnny donned his best tuxedo for the event and couldn’t hide his delight about being back in the Hollywood fold

Suave: The actor looked suave in a double breasted jacket which he layered over a crisp white shirt and completed the look with a pocket square

Hello! He shared a hug with President of the International Cannes Film Festival Iris Knobloch

Cute couple: Meanwhile Mads donned an all black ensemble as he attended alongside wife Hanne Jacobsen, who stunned in a bright pink tailored suit

All smiles: The couple put on a loved up display and seemed to ignore any sense of awkwardness as they risked running into Johnny

Stars set to hit Cannes red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, The Weeknd and Scarlett Johansson.

The festivities Tuesday will include an opening ceremony where Michael Douglas is to receive an honorary Palme d’Or. 

Later, one will also be dished out to Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford. 

The jury that will decide the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, will also be introduced.

This year, the jury is led by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire ‘The Triangle of Sadness.’ 

Shades: Johnny slicked his raven locks back into a ponytail and sported a whole host of jewellery for the evening

Salute: Johnny (left) appeared in great spirits as he posed alongside French actor Pierre Richard (right) 

Crowd: Fans were delighted to see the Hollywood star back in the spotlight 

Cast: (L-R) Maiwenn, Johnny Depp and Pierre Richar

Regal: Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maïwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV

The rest of the jury includes Brie Larson, Paul Dano, French director Julia Ducournau, Argentine filmmaker Damián Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Ménochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani and a Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni.

The opening night selection has attracted some controversy. 

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maïwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV. 

It’s Depp’s first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife. 

After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

‘To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it’s the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,’ said Fremaux.

 ‘If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn’t be here talking about it.’

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