Johnny Depp Produces Adaptation of ‘The Master and Margarita’
Johnny Depp is making significant strides in his return to Hollywood. He is set to produce the first English-language adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s acclaimed novel, The Master and Margarita. The announcement was made during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Production Team and Collaborators
Depp’s production company, IN.2 Film, is backing this ambitious project alongside producers Svetlana Dali and Grace Loh. Stephen Deuters and Stephen Malit from IN.2 will also be involved in the production. The film will be a collaborative effort with Tribune Pictures.
Executive Team
- Nevin Shalit
- Andrew Fourman
- Konstantin Elkin from World Visions
- Michael Paletta from Tribune Pictures
- The late Michael Lang
As of now, no director has been attached, and details regarding casting remain undisclosed. The production is slated to begin in late 2026.
The Master and Margarita: A Brief Overview
The Master and Margarita is a satirical and fantastical novel composed in the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1940. The story shifts between 1930s Moscow and the time of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Central to the narrative is the devil’s return to Moscow, accompanied by a talking cat named Behemoth and a cast of eccentric characters who wreak havoc among the city’s corrupt populace.
Adaptation History
While this version will be the first English-language feature adaptation, Bulgakov’s work has seen various interpretations in film, television, and theater across multiple languages.
Depp’s Recent Projects
Depp’s film career had faced challenges following his controversial legal disputes with ex-wife Amber Heard. Since the defamation lawsuit he initiated in 2019, he has appeared in Minamata (2020) and Jeanne du Barry (2023). Additionally, he directed and produced Modì, a biopic of Amedeo Modigliani featured at the Red Sea Film Festival in 2024.
Other notable projects include the Lionsgate feature Day Drinker, starring Depp and Penélope Cruz, which began filming in Spain in April. In October, he signed on for a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where he will portray Ebenezer Scrooge, with Ti West directing.
As Johnny Depp continues his Hollywood comeback, The Master and Margarita remains a pivotal project that promises to showcase his creative vision and artistic re-engagement in the film industry.
