Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Johnny Depp, 'Jeanne du Barry' and plenty to talk about

Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Johnny Depp, ‘Jeanne du Barry’ and plenty to talk about

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Johnny Depp poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Jury president Ruben Ostlund, centre, poses with jury members Rungano Nyoni, from left, Julia Ducournau, Brie Larson and Maryam Touzani at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Jury member Brie Larson poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Carys Zeta Douglas, from left, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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The official poster for ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is pictured outside the entrance of the Carlton hotel ahead of the Cannes film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 15, 2023. The 76th edition of the film festival runs from May 16 until May 27. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Michael Douglas poses for photographers at the photo call honoring him with a Palme d’Or at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Naomi Campbell poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Uma Thurman poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Jury member Paul Dano poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Catherine Zeta-Jones, left, and Michael Douglas pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Fan Bingbing poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Jury member Brie Larson poses for photographers at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Jury president Ruben Ostlund, fourth from right, poses with jury members Paul Dano, Denis Menochet, Brie Larson, Damian Szifron and Julia Ducournau upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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This image released by Apple TV+ shows Lily Gladstone, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” (Apple TV+ via AP)

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Catherine Deneuve poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Jury president Ruben Ostlund poses for photographers at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Uma Thurman, left, and Levon Hawke pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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This image released by Lucasfilm shows Harrison Ford in a scene from “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” (Lucasfilm Ltd. via AP)

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Elle Fanning poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Workers roll out the red carpet for the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Cannes film festival runs from May 16 until May 27 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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Jury president Ruben Ostlund, centre, poses with jury members Paul Dano, from left, Rungano Nyoni, Denis Menochet, Maryam Touzani, Julia Ducournau, Brie Larson, Damian Szifron and Atiq Rahimi at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Jury president Ruben Ostlund, from right, poses with Damian Szifron, from left, Brie Larson, and Julia Ducournau at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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The Palme d’Or is displayed at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Festival director Thierry Fremaux, wearing a badge that reads “I stand with Ukraine,” poses for photographers at the photo call honoring Michael Douglas with a Palme d’Or at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

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Jury member Brie Larson poses for photographers at the photo call for the jury at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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John C. Reilly poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Mads Mikkelsen, left, Hanne Jacobsen pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Michael Douglas poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

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Director Maiwenn, left, and Johnny Depp pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

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Pauline Pollmann, from left, Diego Le Fur, director Maiwenn, Johnny Depp, Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Pascal Greggory, and Melvil Poupaud pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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Emmanuelle Beart poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

By JAKE COYLE

The Cannes Film Festival red carpet sprang to life Tuesday with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama “Jeanne du Barry,” with Johnny Depp, as the French Riviera movie pageant launched a star-studded and potentially controversy-rife 76th edition.

Throngs of onlookers shouted “Johnny!” as Depp, in purple-hued sunglasses signed autographs and edged back into the spotlight following his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard. “Jeanne du Barry,” directed and co-starring Maïwenn, has been billed as Depp’s comeback — though his prominent presence at Cannes has been hotly debated.

A coterie of stars streamed down Cannes’ famous red carpet for the opening night ceremony, including Brie Larson, Uma Thurman, Gong Li, Elle Fanning, Naomi Campbell, Catherine Deneuve (who graces this year’s festival poster) and a blue-haired Helen Mirren, who carried a fan labeled #worthit.

During the opening ceremony, Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme d’Or, with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys Zeta Douglas, looking on from the audience.

“I’m even older than the festival,” said Douglas, 78, after receiving a warm standing ovation.

Douglas and Deneuve officially declared open a festival that promises a Côte 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.

“My wife is currently picketing with my 6-month-old, strapped to her chest,” Paul Dano, a juror, said Tuesday, referencing Zoe Kazan. “I will be there on the picket line when I get back home.”

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. 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, Scarlett Johansson and Abel Tesfaye — also known as the Weeknd.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury that will decide the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, was introduced. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire “The Triangle of Sadness,” is presiding over a jury including Dano, Larson, Argentine filmmaker Damián Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Ménochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani, Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni and French director Julia Ducournau, who in 2019 became the second female filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or for “Titane.”

Östlund, 49, wondered whether he might have been handed the opportunity a decade too soon. But while addressing the press, Östlund — whose “The Triangle of Sadness” was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards — made it clear where his allegiances lie.

“If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme d’Or, it’s an easy choice,” said Östlund. “I would rather have one more (Palme) than have an Oscar.”

The opening night selection has attracted some controversy. “Jeanne du Barry,” which simultaneously opened in French theaters Tuesday, was produced following the much-watched 2022 trial during which 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.

Maïwenn has made headlines recently, too. The French actor-director has been accused of spitting at prominent French journalist Edwy Plenel. Earlier this month, she confirmed that she assaulted him in a restaurant.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, praised Depp as an actor and said 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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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

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For more coverage of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival

JAKE COYLE

Coyle is a film writer and critic for The Associated Press.