Johnny Depp's first look from 'Waiting for the Barbarians' is out, and he looks sinister

The actor plays the role of murderous Colonel Joll who leads an expedition of special forces to capture 'barbarians' beyond the frontier

Actor Johnny Depp who was last seen in 'Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald' will soon be seen in 'Waiting for the Barbarians', the film adaptation of J.M. Coetzee's novel of the same name.

The actor plays the role of a colonel and, in the first look, he is seen in a colonial outfit striding ahead of Mark Rylance. The film also stars Robert Pattinson in an important role.

Directed by Ciro Guerro, the film will depict the struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed and Depp will play the murderous Colonel Joll who leads an expedition of special forces to capture "barbarians" beyond the frontier. Those captured will later be tortured as punishment. 

Pattinson, on the other hand, will play the role of warrant officer Mandel who is asked to replace the Magistrate (Rylance) accused of treason as he is assumed to have consorted with the barbarians.

Mandel will have to make a choice while he is being promoted to post of the Magistrate — to go with what is right or to be loyal to the Empire as its citizen. How Colonel Joll will influence Mandel's decision, and the role that the former Magistrate plays will, form the crux of the film. 

Andrea Iervolino, Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Media Group, Ievolino’s TaTaTu, as well as Michael Fitzgerald and Olga Segura produce the film which was mostly shot in North Africa and Europe. The film's post-production, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is currently taking place at Cannes. 

After starring in multiple big-budget films including the Pirates franchise and 'Fantastic Beasts', Depp is returning to the realm of indie films with 'Waiting for the Barbarians' and another of his upcoming film titled 'Minamata'.

In this film, the first look of which was released earlier in the year, Depp will play war photographer W. Eugene Smith. The film follows Smith as he takes on a huge corporation in 1971 Japan. The corporation is responsible for poisoning people in the town of Minamata and the photographer is convinced by an editor to travel to Japan to expose 'the devastating annihilation of a coastal community'.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Curry Barker has a Halloween treat for ‘Obsession’ fans, and it’s available to watch for free.
2026-10-31T16:46:39.000Z
Angelina Jolie was set to play Cleopatra VII in a Sony epic that never reached the cameras after 2014
2026-10-31T08:30:53.000Z
A retired investigator faces a sadistic killer in 'Paradise Disturbed,' a thriller directed by James Khanlarian and based on a novel.
2026-10-30T19:18:41.000Z
Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits screens on December 18, 2026.
2026-10-30T09:52:55.000Z
'Safe Space' blends sci-fi and romantic comedy in a satirical take on toxic relationships, modern dating, and intimacy in a screen-driven society.
2026-10-29T17:54:44.000Z
A CIA codebreaker faces the one mystery he couldn’t solve in ‘Tessellation’
2026-10-29T15:51:40.000Z
Pierce Brosnan and Don Lee are among the newcomers joining the upcoming action film
2026-10-29T07:28:51.000Z
‘Hannibal’ writer Nick Antosca is penning the script for the third installment of the Paramount horror series
2026-10-29T05:01:36.000Z
Sacha Gervasi’s 'Darlington' follows a faded television star seeking redemption inside a billionaire’s meticulously recreated English estate.
2026-10-28T20:59:55.000Z
Jennifer Lawrence recalls her time with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson, sharing BTS stories from her return to the upcoming prequel.
2026-10-28T16:39:58.000Z