Movie Overview
- Title: Day Drinker
- Genre: Action Thriller
- Director: Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man, 500 Days of Summer, upcoming Snow White)
- Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Madelyn Cline
- Production Companies: Lionsgate, Thunder Road, In.2, 30WEST (executive producers)
- Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Adam Kolbrenner, Zach Dean, Johnny Depp (via In.2)
- Screenplay: Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War, Fast X)
- Release Date: To Be Announced (TBA)
- Filming Status: Pre-production; filming scheduled to begin in February 2025 along coastal France, Portugal, and Spain
Plot Summary
“Day Drinker” follows the story of a cruise ship bartender (Johnny Depp) who encounters a mysterious day drinker (Penélope Cruz). What begins as a chance meeting soon spirals into a thrilling entanglement with a criminal underbelly. As their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, the two must navigate a web of danger, deception, and hidden connections. The film promises “wildly outrageous twists and turns” set against the backdrop of an incredible, sun-soaked coastal world.
Cast
- Johnny Depp as the cruise ship bartender – A grieving yet resourceful man thrust into a high-stakes underworld.
- Penélope Cruz as the day drinker – An enigmatic stranger with secrets that unravel the plot.
- Madelyn Cline – Role TBD; known for Outer Banks and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Crew
Production Details
- Development: First announced in March 2022, the project gained traction in October 2024 when Lionsgate confirmed Depp and Cruz as leads. Madelyn Cline joined the cast in February 2025.
- Director’s Vision: Marc Webb, praised for blending commercial appeal with unique storytelling, aims to craft an action-packed yet character-driven thriller.
- Producers: The team includes Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee (John Wick franchise), ensuring a strong action pedigree, alongside Adam Kolbrenner (The Tomorrow War) and writer Zach Dean.
- Significance: This marks Johnny Depp’s most high-profile Hollywood return since his legal battles with Amber Heard, and his fourth collaboration with Penélope Cruz (Blow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Murder on the Orient Express).
Additional Information
“Day Drinker” is positioned within the action genre and features a strong production team, including Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee from Thunder Road, known for their work on the “John Wick” series. Adam Kolbrenner, recognized for films like “The Tomorrow War” and “Free Guy,” along with Zach Dean, who wrote the original screenplay, are also part of the production team.
Chelsea Kujawa is overseeing the project for Lionsgate, while Dan Freedman handled the negotiations for the studio. This collaboration marks another partnership between Lionsgate and 30WEST, who previously worked together on the music-themed comedy “Power Ballad,” currently in post-production.
What to Expect
Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group chair, Adam Fogelson, describes “Day Drinker” as combining “a highly commercial concept with wildly outrageous twists and turns all set in an incredible world.” Fans can anticipate a stylish, edge-of-your-seat thriller bolstered by the chemistry between Depp and Cruz, with Webb’s visual flair and the John Wick team’s action expertise.
Current Status
As of March 13, 2025, “Day Drinker” is in pre-production, with filming set to start next month. Lionsgate launched international sales at the American Film Market (AFM) in November 2024, signaling strong industry interest. No official release date has been set, but updates are expected as production progresses.
