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Johnny Depp is making his big Cannes comeback — but his ex-wife Amber Heard’s friends are trying their best to pour cold water on it.
Depp, 59, will appear on the red carpet for the premiere of “Jeanne du Barry,” which is officially opening the Cannes Film Festival Tuesday.
He plays Louis XV in the movie, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maïwenn.
But even as sources close to Depp say the star is thriving — with a new Dior deal that, Page Six is told, is worth more than $20 million and a directorial debut with Al Pacino in the works — he’s under fresh fire.
Heard’s close friend, journalist Eve Barlow, posted a photo of Depp on Instagram over the weekend, writing “Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers. Plus ça change. #CannesYouNot.”
A second image bore the words: “‘Jeanne Du Barry’ Representing Abusers at Cannes.”
She also posted a photo of Depp alongside directors Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, each of whom has been accused of sexually abusing a minor.
Allen has denied abusing his daughter Dylan, while Polanksi pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl — but fled to France rather than serve prison time in the US.
The meme, with the headline “Why Does Cannes Platform Predators?” also included convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, actor Gérard Depardieu (who has denied any criminal behavior after facing sexual assault and harassment allegations made by 13 women over the past two decades) and Luc Besson.
The French director was accused of repeatedly raping an actress, but the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed the accusations last year.
However, a source close to Depp told Page Six: “The other people in this post are alleged or convicted child predators and rapists; that is not Johnny. He won his trial and he was not accused of anything like this.”
Barlow is currently living with Heard and the actress’s young daughter, Oonagh, in Spain.
She posted a claim Tuesday that protest fliers are being handed out at theaters showing “Jeanne du Barry,” reading “The film you are about to see — Maïwenn’s ‘Jeanne du Barry’ — contains scenes featuring Johnny Depp, who is involved in proven acts of violence against his former wife Amber Heard.”
Depp has denied any violence against Heard, who accused him of such in an essay for the Washington Post.
The premiere marks Depp’s first new film since his 2022 trial with Heard.
A civil jury found Heard guilty of defaming Depp with the WaPo column, awarding him $10 million in damages, but also awarded Heard $2 million after finding that Depp’s lawyer had defamed her.
On the red carpet Tuesday, Cannes juror Brie Larson looked uncomfortable as she was asked whether she would attend Depp’s premiere.
“You’re asking me that?” the Oscar winner responded during a jury press conference on Tuesday. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically.”
After it was pointed out that the actress sat on the board of the now defunct Time’s Up organization, and was a big defender of the #MeToo movement, Larson added, “You’ll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do.”
In response, Barlow tweeted: “In all seriousness, this is the power of Johnny Depp. Nobody will speak out because of the steer this man has in Hollywood. Amber stood alone.”
On Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice of opening the festival with “Jeanne du Barry,” saying Depp is extraordinary in the film — and admitting that 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.”
He added: “If there’s one person in this world who didn’t find the least interest in this very publicized trial, it’s me.”
It will be Depp’s first time at Cannes since 2011, for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
The Depp source told Page Six, however, “Johnny doesn’t like the term ‘comeback’ — he’s been working.”
Indeed, Depp’s Dior deal is worth upwards of $20 million, and he just signed for another three years with the French brand.
He’s also about to make his directorial debut on a movie called “Modi,” starring Al Pacino, and go on tour with his band Hollywood Vampires.
He will leave France on Thursday to perform at a memorial concert for guitarist Jeff Beck in London, alongside Eric Clapton and Robert Plant.
“He looks great. There’s excitement that he’s on the right track, he’s in professional mode … and he’s so proud of the film,” said the Depp source.
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