Johnny Depp will produce the first English-language feature adaptation of The Master and Margarita, the classic satirical novel from Soviet author Mikhail Bulgakov, Deadline has confirmed.
Depp shared the news in an appearance to promote the project at Saudia Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival on Wednesday. Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere today, he is not currently attached to star. No word yet on who wrote the script, and a director has not yet been attached.
Depp will produce alongside Stephen Deuters and Stephen Malit under his IN.2 Film banner, alongside Svetlana Dali, Grace Loh, Natalia Rogal, and Robert MacLean for Tribune Pictures. Exec producers include the late Michael Lang, Nevin Shalit, Andrew Fourman World Visions’ Konstantin Elkin and Tribune Pictures’ Michael Paletta.
The project reunites Depp with Dali, who exec produced the Depp-led, World Vision and Red Sea Film Foundation-backed Jeanne du Barry and Modì: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
Written during the 1930s under Stalin but unpublished until decades after Bulgakov’s death, The Master and Margarita is considered one of the great works of 20th century literature. Set between 1930s Moscow, where the devil returns with his talking cat to cause havoc amongst its corrupt citizens, and Jerusalem during the time of Pontius Pilate, the book tells a fantastical, satirical tale of love, artistic freedom and the eternal battle of good versus evil. A third intertwined story follows a struggling writer and his lover, Margarita, who is willing to do anything to save him from the totalitarian system.
The Master and Margarita has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide in over 40 languages, inspiring generations of cultural icons across music, literature and film — from The Rolling Stones and David Bowie to Patti Smith and Federico Fellini.
Depp was one of Hollywood’s biggest and most in-demand stars until his extended legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, leading to a period in which he wasn’t seen in studio movies. Most recently seen in international titles like Minamata and Jeanne du Barry, he’s spoken about feeling “boycotted” by Hollywood in the wake of the saga with Heard and indicated that he might be done with the town. But now, he’s in the midst of a comeback, having been tapped to star in multiple studio projects. First, he wrapped production on Day Drinker, a Lionsgate action-thriller from Marc Webb that reteamed him with frequent co-star Penélope Cruz. More recently, he’s signed on to star in Paramount’s Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a retelling of the classic Charles Dickens story from director Ti West, on which we were first to report.
Depp is represented by Jack Whigham at Range Media.
