Embattled Hollywood star Johnny Depp has made a triumphant return to the international film circuit with a dramatic red carpet appearance on the opening day of the prestigious 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Holding hands with Maiwenn, his French co-star and director of Jeanne du Barry, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor was greeted with cheers from hordes of fans and hugs from fellow cast mates.

Fans held up signs that read “Viva Johnny” and “We love Johnny” as Depp and Maiwenn walked hand-in-hand for the premiere screening of their Louis XV historical drama at the Palais des Festivals on Wednesday (local time).

The film, which opened the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, is Depp’s first major cinematic appearance since his high-profile defamation case with his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.

Depp, 59, sued the Aquaman star over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser.

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Depp gets emotional

Jeanne Du Barry tells the story of Jeanne, a young working-class woman who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the social hierarchy, eventually landing on the radar of King Louis XV (played by Depp).

Wearing a three-piece black suit and seated next to Maiwenn, Depp became visibly emotional after the film received a seven-minute standing ovation following the screening.

Critics, however, were quick to zoom in on Depp’s performance, with Variety saying “the sparkle wasn’t there”.

“Depp delivers his lines in well-turned French, wearing fine powder and a stiff white wig, and yet he seems strangely uncomfortable in the role – adequate but not especially engaged.

“Depp’s the kind of player who delivers practically every performance with a wink, so it’s odd that even when his Louis is actually supposed to be winking [at Jeanne], the sparkle isn’t there,” Peter Debruge wrote.

ScreenDaily said it wasn’t “great or memorable” filmmaking, but the “power of the story and some of the performances” made up for that.

“Calling upon American Johnny Depp to play King Louis XV could be viewed as stunt casting but one soon forgets he’s an unusual choice because, if there is not exactly chemistry between the leads, there is something pleasingly watchable,” it wrote.

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Meanwhile, as Jeanne du Barry puts Depp back in the cinematic spotlight, he has also reportedly signed the most lucrative men’s fragrance deal in history last week.

Variety reported last week that Depp had signed a $US20 million deal ($30 million) with French luxury fashion house and cosmetics giant, Dior.

Batman‘s Robert Pattinson’s perfume deal with Dior Homme is worth $US12 million ($18 million) and Brad Pitt’s with Chanel No.5 worth $US7 million ($10.5 million), according to the outlet.

Since 2015, Depp has been the face of Dior Sauvage and his “image and marketability improved dramatically” last year after he won his defamation trial.

Dior parent company LVMH’s boss Bernard Arnault said the “image of Johnny Depp” was one of the main reasons the cologne had been “a remarkable success”, Variety wrote.

On IMDb, Depp is listed as a producer of 12 of his next film projects, including the role of director on a biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.