Unread postby SnoopyDances » Wed Dec 01, 2021 7:25 pm
Johnny Depp Movie ‘Minamata’ Is Finally Getting A U.S. Release, But Not With MGM
Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Johnny Depp movie Minamata is finally getting a U.S. release, we can reveal, but not from MGM which had previously acquired the film.
Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE) are now teaming up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to give the movie a North American release in theaters beginning December 15. The platformed release is due to extend across U.S. and Canada into 2022 and the team are looking to position it for awards consideration.
This update comes after the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, complained earlier this year that MGM was “burying” Minamata due to Depp’s well publicized off-screen issues. You can read the filmmaker’s impassioned letter to the studio here. Depp also decried the non-release in an interview in August in which he said the film deserved to be seen but was shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.
Minamata charts the true story of acclaimed war photographer W. Eugene Smith (played by Depp) who traveled back to Japan in the 1970s to document the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in local communities by a major corporation which dumped chemicals into their waterways.
The film got its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in 2020 and the filmmakers had expected MGM to release it earlier this year after it was acquired in fall 2020 for the studio’s American International Pictures label. The feature has been released in a host of international markets but MGM stalled on the domestic release, which had initially been set for February 5. Recently, the filmmakers were finally able to renegotiate a deal to make sure it got a domestic audience. We reached out to MGM for clarity on the non-release but the studio declined to comment.
Director-writer-producer Levitas told us today: “I am thrilled that North American audiences will finally be able to learn about what happened and continues to happen in Minamata and around the world. The silencing of marginalized voices and those left behind (as well artists) by large corporate behemoths has to end, and with new like-minded partners this story will finally come to light in North America and hopefully offer some peace to the victims and their families who have been put through far too much.”
ILBE, owned by prolific producing duo Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi, is a public entertainment company listed on the AIM Italia market of the Italian Stock Exchange. The duo previously backed Depp’s 2019 movie Waiting For The Barbarians, which was also released domestically by ILBE and Samuel Goldwyn.
Andrea Iervolino said today: “Anchored by standout performances and stunning direction and craft artistry, Minamata is the kind of purposeful storytelling that sinks in with audiences and a movie they will appreciate seeing. We’re thrilled to be able to orchestrate a release campaign alongside Samuel Goldwyn that will invite audiences into this story.”
Depp has had a turbulent 18 months. In March, the actor lost an attempt to overturn a UK High Court ruling that concluded he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard. The actor was dropped by Warner Bros from its Fantastic Beasts franchise following the UK verdict. He remains engaged in a related U.S. legal battle with Heard.
Also starring in Minamata are Bill Nighy, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Asano Tadanobu and Akiko Iwase.
Pic was written by David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Levitas and Jason Forman. Producers are Levitas for Metalwork Pictures and Depp for Infinitum Nihil, as well as Sam Sarkar, Bill Johnson, and Kevan Van Thompson.
Samuel Goldwyn Films was behind the U.S. releases for 2021 Oscar winner Another Round and 2021 Oscar nominee The Man Who Sold His Skin.
Unread postby justintime » Thu Dec 02, 2021 1:17 am
Ohhhhh! Thank you, SnoopyDances, for this unbelievably fabulous news! And the same, many times over to ILBE and the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, for never giving up. I haven’t been this happy - grinning from ear to ear - in a very, very long time.
Do you think this means a DVD in English (not English subtitles - I want to hear Johnny’s voice) that can be played here in the US and Canada will also be available at some point? Greedy, I guess, but I had to ask.
"Stay low." ~ JD
"I don't like it in here . . . it's terribly crowded." ~ Hatter
"There's something about Johnny that breaks your heart." ~ John Logan, ST
"Tear deeper, Mother." ~ Wilmot
Unread postby In-too-Depp » Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:04 am
Thanks Snoopy, better late than never and in time for award consideration too! Well done too to all those that have kept pushing for this to happen, I notice not much media coverage of this announcement though which I guess isn't surprising. We're living in weird times.
And Wit, was his vain frivolous pretence
Of pleasing others, at his own expense
Unread postby ForeverYoung » Thu Dec 02, 2021 3:41 pm
Now we know why the documentaries are getting released in early December. Someone on SM posted that Vanguard is connected to the company that is putting the two of them out. One is re: JD's version of the events and the other is her lies, and we all know Vanguard is funded by a certain rocket man. It's just another pathetic attempt by her attorneys and PR to take down JD.
“Growing old is unavoidable, but never growing up is possible."
Unread postby fireflydances » Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:32 pm
Yeah, can't find anything about it, even at Samuel Goldwyn. No mention of the movie and when I attempted to search the title, no response. However, I did find an email address that might offer more information about which theaters:
Unread postby fireflydances » Sat Dec 11, 2021 3:29 pm
I noticed an announcement last week about Minamata opening in a theater in Los Angeles December 15th. Of course, didn't note the name of the theater but it was really exciting to see the first sign of a theater actually showing Minamata! My recollection is that I saw the announcement a day or two before Infinitum Nihil posted about the US Official Trailer. Likely it was Facebook. I will keep an eye out and come back and update this post if I find the name of the theater.
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested." Sir Francis Bacon, Of Studies