Johnny Depp, recently honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Rome Film Festival, has expressed his ongoing commitment to acting, revealing plans to play Satan in Terry Gilliam's upcoming film, The Carnival at the End of Days. Depp shared his hopes that the long-anticipated project will eventually come to fruition despite ongoing financial hurdles. The film has been in development for years, with Gilliam's unique vision proving difficult to fund due to his recent history of box office disappointments, including 2018's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
In May, it appeared that funding had been secured for The Carnival at the End of Days, with casting confirmed for Depp alongside Jeff Bridges, Adam Driver, and Jason Momoa. A January 2025 shoot was initially targeted. However, in a twist typical of Gilliam's challenging career, the director later revealed that he still lacked sufficient funds and would need to make creative compromises if he proceeded under the current budget.
Gilliam has since been negotiating with Saudi investors, contemplating the possibility of filming in Saudi Arabia. The director has stated that the film's budget would need to reach approximately $30 million to preserve his artistic vision. Although Gilliam has faced setbacks, his persistence reflects the same resilience he demonstrated with The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, a project that took over two decades to complete.
With Depp attached to the project, there is hope that The Carnival at the End of Days may eventually see the light of day, even if it requires a scaled-back approach.
The news surrounding The Carnival at the End of Days is both exciting and frustrating for fans of Terry Gilliam and Johnny Depp. Gilliam's films have always been distinctive, blending imaginative storytelling with surreal visual style. However, the director's struggles to secure funding, especially after his last project's commercial underperformance, highlight the challenges of sustaining unconventional cinema in a market driven by profitability.
Depp's enthusiasm for the role of Satan adds intrigue, suggesting the actor is drawn to unconventional characters, aligning well with Gilliam's offbeat narratives. It remains to be seen whether filming in Saudi Arabia will align with Gilliam's vision or compromise the film's artistic integrity. Nevertheless, the potential cast and unique premise make The Carnival at the End of Days worth keeping an eye on.
Do you think Terry Gilliam should compromise his vision to secure funding, or is it more important for him to maintain artistic integrity? Why?
