After years of absence from major studio films, Johnny Depp has officially stepped back into the Hollywood spotlight. The project that marks his return? A suspense thriller called Day Drinker, and it might be the most intriguing twist in his career yet.
Depp has kept busy in recent years with smaller, international projects, including Jeanne du Barry and his directorial effort Modi. But those were far from the wide-release, mainstream blockbusters he once headlined. Day Drinker, produced by Lionsgate, is a different story. It’s slick, it’s stylish, and it has the one thing Pirates of the Caribbean fans weren’t expecting: Penélope Cruz.
Yes, Cruz is back alongside Depp, more than a decade after the two last appeared together in the fourth installment of the Pirates franchise. Their dynamic—sharp, flirtatious, and full of history—was a highlight in On Stranger Tides. Now they reunite in a film that swaps pirate ships for private yachts, but still brings plenty of intrigue.
Directed by Marc Webb, Day Drinker centers on a yacht bartender (played by Madelyn Cline) who gets caught up with Depp’s mysterious character and Cruz’s dangerous criminal figure. The ensemble cast adds fresh talent with actors like Manu Ríos and Arón Piper from Élite, along with Juan Diego Botto and Anika Boyle.
What’s turning heads beyond the cast is Depp’s appearance. The first image released from the film shows him transformed: a bushy gray beard, pulled-back hair, and piercing eyes give him a haunting, contemplative look. It’s not Jack Sparrow, but there’s something undeniably theatrical about it—as if the swagger never truly left.
This film marks Depp’s first real test to see if mainstream audiences are ready to welcome him back. It’s not just a movie—it’s a signal. A reunion with Cruz, a studio-backed release, and a character wrapped in mystery? That’s a comeback if we’ve ever seen one.
And for Disney execs still unsure about the future of Pirates of the Caribbean, Day Drinker might be the unexpected spark they didn’t know they needed.
