Johnny Depp’s got a new gig, and let me tell you, he’s looking like a whole different animal in Day Drinker. Lionsgate gave us the first peek at him in character on April 14, 2025, and it’s got everyone buzzing. This is his big return to the Hollywood spotlight—his first major studio flick since that Fantastic Beasts mess back in 2018—and judging by this shot, he’s not messing around. We’re talking mystery, edge, and a vibe that’s got fans losing their minds.
He’s Rocking a Whole New Vibe
Caption: Johnny Depp as Kelly in ‘Day Drinker’ – Gray hair slicked back, scruffy beard, navy blazer, and a whiskey glass in hand, he’s got that haunted, cool-as-hell stare. (Photo by Niete, courtesy of Lionsgate)
Okay, picture this: Johnny Depp, but make him a grizzled, silver-haired stranger you’d spot brooding at the end of a bar. That’s what we’ve got in this first snap. The guy’s got long gray hair swept back, a beard that’s seen some miles, and he’s decked out in a slick navy blazer over a pale blue shirt. He’s leaning on a bar top, clutching a glass—whiskey, I’d bet—with those icy blue eyes staring off like he’s got secrets that could sink a ship. Shot by Niete for Lionsgate, it’s got Day Drinker written all over it—a dude who’s lived hard and isn’t spilling a word.
The internet’s already on fire over it. One fan on X was like, “Johnny Depp’s pulling off this silver fox thing in Day Drinker—I’m sold!” Another couldn’t help but throw back to his Grindelwald days, going, “This Day Drinker look? Grindelwald 2.0. I’m weak!” People can’t get over how he’s flipped the script on his usual wild style—and honestly, I get it. It’s a jolt, but it works.
What’s Cooking with Day Drinker?
Marc Webb’s in the director’s chair—you know, the guy who gave us 500 Days of Summer and The Amazing Spider-Man—and he’s cooking up an action thriller that’s all about twists and tension. The script’s from Zach Dean, who did The Tomorrow War, and it’s set on some swanky private yacht. Depp plays this shady character named Kelly who gets tangled up with a bartender—Madelyn Cline from Outer Banks—and then things go sideways when Penélope Cruz rolls in as a sketchy criminal type. The teaser says it’s a mess of connections “nobody saw coming,” and I’m already hooked.
Depp and Cruz? This is their fourth rodeo together—think Blow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Murder on the Orient Express. She’s had his back through all the drama, and you can bet their chemistry’s going to pop. Cline’s the new blood, playing the bartender who’s in way over her head, and then you’ve got Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle filling out this killer cast. They’re shooting in Spain, which just screams cool vibes.
Webb’s hyped about it, saying, “I’m stoked to get rolling with Johnny, Madelyn, Penélope, and this insane lineup. The location’s gorgeous, the crew’s top-tier, and the story? It’s wild. We’re in for a good time.” With John Wick heavyweights Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee producing alongside Adam Kolbrenner, this thing’s got blockbuster written all over it.
Johnny’s Big Comeback Moment
Look, Day Drinker isn’t just another movie for Depp—it’s his ticket back to the Hollywood game after some rough years. After that messy trial with Amber Heard wrapped up in 2022, he took a breather from the big leagues, doing stuff like Jeanne du Barry and directing Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness over in Europe. His last Hollywood splash was Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and we all know how that ended with him getting the boot in 2020. Now, with Lionsgate behind him, he’s got a shot to remind everyone why he’s Johnny freakin’ Depp.
This first look? It’s classic Depp—taking a character and making it his own. He’s done the pirate thing, the scissors-for-hands thing, and now he’s this weathered guy who looks like he’s got stories he’ll never tell. That gray hair and that stare? It’s like he’s saying, “I’m back, and I’ve got something to prove.”