After stepping back into the spotlight with Ebenezer, Johnny Depp isn’t slowing down—and his next move might surprise fans. He’s already wrapped filming on Day Drinker, an action thriller from Lionsgate directed by Marc Webb. The film stars Depp alongside Penélope Cruz, Madelyn Cline, Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle, and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 26, 2027.
While Depp’s return as Ebenezer Scrooge has dominated headlines following Paramount Pictures’ Comic-Con presentation, Day Drinker is already shaping up to be another significant project in his return to major studio filmmaking. With filming complete and post-production underway, the thriller will reunite Depp with one of his most familiar co-stars while introducing audiences to an entirely different character.
What Is Day Drinker About?
Unlike the gothic atmosphere of Ebenezer, Day Drinker moves into the world of suspense and crime.
According to Lionsgate’s official synopsis, the story follows a private yacht bartender whose life changes after meeting a mysterious guest named Kelly, played by Johnny Depp. As their paths become increasingly intertwined, both characters are drawn into the orbit of a dangerous criminal figure, setting off a chain of events that unfolds across Europe’s luxury coastline.
The film was shot in locations across Spain, Portugal, and France, giving the thriller an international backdrop that blends high-end settings with a tense underworld story.
Although Lionsgate has kept many plot details under wraps, the official description suggests a mystery built around shifting alliances, hidden identities, and unexpected twists.
Johnny Depp Reunites with Penélope Cruz
One of the biggest reasons Day Drinker has attracted attention is the reunion of Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz.
The film marks the fourth time the two actors have appeared together on screen. Over the years, they’ve developed a memorable on-screen partnership across several very different genres.
Their previous collaborations include:
- Blow (2001) – Cruz portrayed Mirtha Jung opposite Depp’s George Jung.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) – Cruz played Angelica, a pirate with a complicated history involving Captain Jack Sparrow.
- Murder on the Orient Express (2017) – Both joined Kenneth Branagh’s ensemble adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery.
In Day Drinker, Cruz takes on the role of the powerful criminal whose actions connect the film’s central characters. While details about her character remain limited, the reunion has become one of the movie’s biggest talking points.
Who Else Stars in Day Drinker?
Alongside Depp and Cruz, Lionsgate has assembled an international cast.
Madelyn Cline plays the private yacht bartender whose encounter with Depp’s character sets the story in motion. Best known for Outer Banks and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Cline takes on one of the film’s leading roles.
Spanish actors Manu Ríos and Arón Piper, both recognized by international audiences through Netflix’s Elite, also join the cast in undisclosed roles.
The ensemble is rounded out by Juan Diego Botto, known for The Suicide Squad, and newcomer Anika Boyle.
Although Lionsgate has not revealed details about every character, the mix of established performers and rising talent suggests an ensemble-driven thriller rather than a traditional single-hero action film.
Who Is Making Day Drinker?
Behind the camera, Day Drinker brings together several experienced filmmakers.
The movie is directed by Marc Webb, whose previous credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Snow White. Webb’s work has ranged from romantic dramas to large-scale studio productions, making Day Drinker another step into suspense-driven storytelling.
The screenplay comes from Zach Dean, whose writing credits include The Tomorrow War and Fast X.
Producing the film are Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee through Thunder Road Films, the production company behind the John Wick franchise. Their involvement has drawn interest from action fans familiar with the studio’s previous work.
Together, the creative team brings experience across action, thriller, and studio filmmaking, making Day Drinker one of Lionsgate’s notable theatrical releases for 2027.
Day Drinker Release Details
Lionsgate has set March 26, 2027, as the film’s theatrical release date.
The project has already completed principal photography and is now in post-production, where editing, visual effects, sound design, and music are being finalized before the film’s release.
The March release places Day Drinker among the first major studio releases of the 2027 spring movie season, giving it a prominent theatrical window before the summer blockbuster schedule begins.
What Fan’s Can Expect From This Movie
For audiences eager to see what Johnny Depp does next, Day Drinker represents a sharp contrast to Ebenezer.
Instead of heavy prosthetics and Victorian gothic storytelling, Depp returns in a contemporary thriller built around mystery, crime, and psychological tension. The project also reunites him with Penélope Cruz for the fourth time while introducing him to a new ensemble cast led by Madelyn Cline.
With Ebenezer arriving in theaters on November 13, 2026, and Day Drinker following a few months later on March 26, 2027, moviegoers will have the chance to see Depp take on two very different roles in quick succession.
As Lionsgate begins revealing more footage and promotional material in the months ahead, Day Drinker is likely to become one of the actor’s most closely watched upcoming releases.