US
film star Johnny Depp has returned to the international stage for the
first time in three years, appearing on the red carpet at the opening
night of the Cannes Film Festival.
He
signed autographs and took selfies with fans before the premiere of
Jeanne du Barry, in which he plays Louis XV alongside actress and
director Maïwenn.
It is Depp's first major role since a series of high-profile court battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard.
The film received a standing ovation.
Depp reportedly became emotional at the response but critics have been more lukewarm in their assessment of the movie.
The
French-language film tells the story of a woman - played by Maïwenn -
born into poverty who becomes the French king's final mistress.
But
the decision to invite Depp to the festival has been controversial,
leading to the hashtag #CannesYouNot trending on social media.
He was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise three years ago after losing a libel case with a newspaper which called him a wife beater.
Last year he won a defamation case against Heard after she called herself a victim of abuse in the Washington Post.
On
Monday festival director Thierry Fremaux said he was not interested in
Depp's legal woes, adding: "I am interested in Depp the actor."
Speaking at a press conference to promote the film, Depp told journalists: "I don't feel boycotted by Hollywood. I don't think about Hollywood. I don't need Hollywood."
Steve Pond, of The Wrap said the first night of Cannes saw a battle "between a movie and a lot of stuff that didn't have much to do with the movie".
"And the movie, Jeanne du Barry, just wasn't strong enough to put up much of a fight."
Perhaps
the film needed that controversy to be noticed, he suggested. It is a
"a movie that just isn't potent enough to grab any headlines on its
own," he said.
