Johnny Depp's journey to reclaim his Hollywood standing has been marked by various projects following his 2022 defamation lawsuit victory against ex-wife Amber Heard. His latest endeavor sees him taking on the role of a gibberish-speaking puffin, a departure from his iconic Captain Jack Sparrow character in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Despite producer Jerry Bruckheimer expressing interest in rebooting the Pirates series, Depp's focus remains on diverse roles. In 2023, he headlined the period drama Jeanne du Barry, portraying Louis XV, which premiered at Cannes to mixed reviews.
Returning to the realm of feature animation, a genre where he has found success in the past with films like Corpse Bride and Rango, Depp stars in Johnny Puff: Secret Mission. The film follows the adventures of a fedora-wearing puffin in the arctic town, engaged in a battle against the villainous Otto von Walrus.
In a featurette discussing the film, Depp shared his creative process, stating, 'I thought it would be great to invent a language for the character. I thought the only move now is to mix my dialogue with the actual sound of a puffin.' The result is a whimsical portrayal of a sea parrot donning a red bandana and uttering phrases like 'Rama-lama-yama'.
Johnny Puff: Secret Mission serves as a spinoff of the streaming series Puffins, produced by Rome-based Iervolino Entertainment, where Depp also lends his vocal talents. The film is set to debut in seven U.S. theaters on July 12, including Los Angeles, before becoming available on platforms such as Fandango at Home, iNDEMAND, Dish Network, and DirecTV on July 17.
