For the first time in English: Johnny Depp is producing a film adaptation of the cult Russian novel

Actor Johnny Depp is preparing to act as a producer and play the main role in the first film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" in English. This is reported by the Variety portal.

The production will be handled by Depp's company IN.2 Film together with Svetlana Migunova-Dali and Grace Lo, who worked with the actor on his previous films "Jeanne du Barry" and "Modi".

The director and screenwriter of the project have not yet been named, the full cast is also unknown. However, it is specified that filming will begin before the end of 2026.

The portal reminds that in March of this year, the director of the Russian-language film adaptation of the novel Mikhail Lokshin and the distributor company Luminosity Pictures sued Migunova-Dali and Lo, accusing them of preventing the release of "The Master and Margarita" on screens in the USA. The plaintiffs pointed out that Bulgakov's novel is in the public domain, so it is impossible to block the release of the film. At the same time, the producers claimed that they owned the rights to the film adaptation of the novel.

As EADaily reported, Lokshin's "The Master and Margarita" was released in Russia in January 2024. Despite the scandal accompanying the screenings due to the director's pro-Ukrainian position, the film collected 2.3 billion rubles.

The film became the winner of the 38th Nika Award for 2024, receiving prizes in seven nominations.