Depp and Cruz pose in front of Guernica at the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Credit: Museo Reina Sofia
American actor Johnny Depp has returned to the media spotlight during his time in Madrid. Accompanied by his friend and co-star Penélope Cruz, he took advantage of a break in the filming of his new movie, Day Drinker, to join an exclusive cultural outing that has caught the attention of both his fans and the press.
After years in the headlines due to domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, and the high-profile trial that followed, Johnny Depp (62, Kentucky) is, for better or worse, back in the world of cinema. And he’s doing it in Spain, blending work with cultural tourism.
In September 2024, Depp returned to the director’s chair with Modi, his second feature, which premiered at the San Sebastián Film Festival to largely negative reviews. Now, he’s filming Day Drinker, described as his most ambitious project since the reputational fallout from the trial. It also marks a new collaboration with Penélope Cruz, a long-time friend and co-star. It’s worth recalling that, although the verdict acquitted Depp of the abuse charges, both parties were found guilty of defamation.
The film, directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), is taking Depp on a location-hopping tour across Spain. In early May, he was seen shooting scenes in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona), where production occupied the Port de Vilanova for a week. Local media captured images of the actor sporting a full grey beard near the seaside promenade.
Before stopping in Catalonia, Depp had already travelled to another Spanish location. In April, he visited Teruel to shoot a new advert for Dior’s Sauvage fragrance, for which he has been the face since 2015. The shoot took place in Villaspesa, specifically in the Rambla de Barrachina natural park, and he arrived by helicopter at the Teruel airport, where he was greeted by its director, as reported by local press.
Filming for Day Drinker also took Depp to the Canary Islands in mid-April. According to the newspaper El Día, the first official image of the film was taken on the second floor of the Auditorio de Tenerife, showing Depp in character, standing with a drink in hand. Another scene was filmed in the area of Las Raíces in Tenerife, involving a dramatic car chase.
Most recently, Depp was spotted in Madrid. On Saturday 15 June, the Reina Sofía Museum published photos of the actor with Penélope Cruz, posing in front of Picasso’s Guernica. The visit, described as discreet, attracted wide attention on social media, particularly due to the personal connection between the stars and the symbolic setting.
Penelope Cruz
Cruz and Depp, who previously worked together in Blow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Murder on the Orient Express, are currently filming Day Drinker in Madrid. The cast also includes Madelyn Cline, Juan Diego Botto, Arón Piper and Manu Ríos.
The Reina Sofía shared a thank-you message in English on its official accounts: “Thanks for coming, see you next time!”. The images of the visit were widely shared, though some users questioned the apparent exclusive access granted to the celebrities.
Also accompanying Depp was Argentine businessman Jorge “Corcho” Rodríguez, who posted on Instagram about the experience. He thanked Cruz for the invitation and remarked on the global significance of Picasso’s 1937 anti-war masterpiece. Rodríguez appeared in the photo wearing a black suit and white shirt, while Depp, dressed in black with his signature hat and sunglasses, smiled beside him with a hand on his shoulder.
Rodríguez wrote on Instagram: “Thank you Penélope for this incredible invitation to @museoreinasofia to experience this iconic work by Pablo Picasso, a symbol of Spain and the world!”
The Guernica
Guernica was painted by Picasso in Paris between May and June 1937. It depicts the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War and was commissioned by the Republican government to raise international awareness of the conflict, being displayed at the Spanish Pavilion of the 1937 Paris International Exposition.
The relationship between Depp and Rodríguez reportedly developed through renowned music photographer Ross Halfin, a mutual acquaintance. According to Rodríguez’s partner, Verónica Lozano, Halfin introduced them, and their bond deepened throughout 2024 as they crossed paths at key international film events, including the Rome and San Sebastián festivals. The premiere of Modi, directed by Depp, helped solidify their professional and personal connection.
Day Drinker, scheduled for release in 2026, is billed as a dark action thriller involving a waitress working aboard a boat and a mysterious customer who become entangled in the criminal underworld. Lionsgate president Adam Fogelson described the film last October as “a completely commercial project full of unexpected twists.”
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