Harwood Recalls Meeting Depp
Screenwriter Ronald Harwood recalls meeting Johnny Depp and briefly discussing his script for the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly in an interview with The Telegraph. Johnny was originally slated for the lead role in the film but was unable to complete it due to previous commitments.
The film is based on the memoirs of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of the French Elle who, as the result of a stroke, was left paralysed but for one eyelid. The studios gave the picture the go-ahead after having seen only the first draft of Harwood's script and Johnny Depp, originally slated to play the Frenchman, was effusive in his praise.
'I was at a showing of Finding Neverland, which Depp was in,' Harwood says, 'and they told me he wanted to meet me. I went over and he held my hand, looked me in the eye and said, "I love your screenplay and I can't wait to start filming."
'I knew then he wasn't going to do it. I've been around actors long enough to know that look. And I was right, he went off and made two pirate pictures.'
Despite Depp sailing off into a Caribbean sunset, the film went ahead - with Javier Bardem in the role - and since opening in America in November it's garnered a clutch of awards.
posted by Trish Bennett at
11:52 PM
8 Comments:
And Johnny became the greatest film pirate of all!!!! Certainly the sexiest.... trade THAT for a twitchy eyelid??? Noooooo!!
I am surprised Johnny would say he was looking forward to making the film if he didn't really intend to ... granted, i am very glad he did pirates, but i am surprised at that.
He did want to do the film but the schedule conflicted with his commitment to do the 2 "Pirates" sequels. Guess they didn't want to wait til he was done.
I'm sure alot of actors had to pass up films because of a scheduling conflict. I wouldn't fault him for that. I'm sure he would have been brilliant as always. Just wasn't meant to be.
Correction: Javier Bardem did not play Jean-Do in Diving Bell and Butterfly! The article is wrong.
Having just seen Diving Bell I couldn't help but think of how different that movie would have been with Johnny playing Jean-Do. Go see the movie. It is very unique and inspiring. Johnny agreed to do the movie only if Julian Schnabel directed. Needless to say with the super success of POTC Johnny had to go on to make move Pirate movies so missed out on Diving Bell. Too bad for the movie. He would have been sooooo much better than the Frenchman who played Jean-Do. No offense!!!
Whatever film I go to see I can't help wondering how Johnny Depp would have played the male role. It spoils a lot of movies for me.
(I know I'm sad)
The actor in Butterfy and diving bell is French actor Matthieu Amalric.
Then I don't understand how this man could know Johnny was not going to do it just from his look !!!
Granted, Johnny didn't get to do "Diving Bell" which I'm positive he would have been brilliant in, but think how much different it would have been if Sweeney Todd was played by Russell Crowe with Sam Mendes as director which was originally thought of a few years ago instead of Johnny and Tim. Whew!!! I'm so glad that didn't happen! Thrilled, actually!
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