‘Modi’ Filmed Across 3 Countries, 1 Heartbeat of Passion — Johnny Depp’s Secret Letters to Cast Reveal His Deepest Artistic Confession Yet

After years of anticipation, Johnny Depp’s long-awaited return to the director’s chair is finally set to reach audiences. His latest film, Modi: Three Days on the Wings of Madness, will premiere in select U.S. theaters on November 7, distributed by Vertical. But beyond the film’s cinematic ambitions, it’s Depp’s heartfelt letters to his cast and crew that have captivated fans — revealing a director deeply connected to his art, his collaborators, and the fragile humanity at the heart of creation itself.

A Return to Direction After Nearly Three Decades

Modi marks Depp’s first directorial project since 1997’s The Brave — and only his second feature as a filmmaker. Based on Dennis McIntyre’s acclaimed play about Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, the film dives into the feverish final days of the artist’s life in war-torn Paris during World War I.

The film stars Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as Modigliani and Al Pacino as art collector Maurice Gangnat — reuniting Depp and Pacino after their collaboration in Donnie Brasco nearly 30 years ago.

Filmed across three countries — Italy, France, and Hungary — the project has been described by those involved as both chaotic and electric, mirroring the restless genius of its subject.

“Modi takes audiences through a chaotic series of events through the streets and bars of Paris during World War I,” reads the official synopsis. “On the run from the police, Modigliani’s desire to end his career and leave the city is dismissed by his fellow Bohemians. The chaos reaches a crescendo when he’s faced with a collector who could change his life.”

“Please Accept My Eternal Admiration” — Depp’s Love Letter to His Crew

When Depp wrapped filming in Budapest in late 2023, he penned a note to his team that has since resurfaced and gone viral among fans for its sincerity and gratitude.

“To my dear Modi film family, Köszönöm for all your exceptional efforts without which this film could not have been made,” Depp wrote on Instagram. “Please accept my eternal admiration, appreciation, respect and love. — JD. X.”

The message, now widely shared, offers a rare glimpse into Depp’s deeply personal connection to his creative process, one that transcends celebrity and returns to the craft itself.

In earlier interviews, Depp described Modi as “an incredibly fulfilling and transformative experience,” crediting his cast and crew for their “unwavering commitment and creativity.”

The Al Pacino Connection: “How Could I Refuse?”

One of the film’s most notable champions is Al Pacino, who reportedly encouraged Depp to take on the directing role.

“How could I refuse Pacino?” Depp said earlier this year, with a smile. “A sincere acknowledgement for generously contributing his talent and dedication to this project.”

Pacino, a longtime admirer of Modigliani’s work, helped shepherd the film from concept to completion, reinforcing Depp’s belief that Modi would be a labor of passion rather than commercial ambition.

“Modi is a testament to the collaborative spirit of independent filmmaking,” Depp said. “I am excited to present this unique and compelling story to the world.”

A Film Shaped by Art, Gratitude, and Renewal

Written by Jerzy Kromolowski, Mary Olson-Kromolowski, and Dennis McIntyre, Modi also features Antonia Desplat, Bruno Gouery, Ryan McParland, and Benjamin Lavernhe.

More than a biopic, Modi appears to be a reflection of art as survival — of beauty found amid turmoil, and of an artist’s final struggle to be seen and understood.

For Depp, the film marks more than a creative comeback; it’s a reclamation of identity, guided by humility and devotion to the art form that first inspired him. His words to his cast seem to encapsulate that journey perfectly:

“Embarking on this cinematic journey has been transformative,” he said. “It reminded me that storytelling, at its heart, is not about perfection — it’s about truth.”

As the November 7 release approaches, fans and critics alike are eager to see whether Modi will mark not just Johnny Depp’s return to directing, but his rebirth as an artist — one driven not by spectacle, but by the raw emotion that first drew him to cinema.

For a man once defined by characters larger than life, Modi might just be the most personal portrait Johnny Depp has ever painted.