Johnny Depp to Star in English Master and Margarita Adaptation

Johnny Depp announced plans to star in and produce the first English-language feature film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's classic novel The Master and Margarita during his appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last week. The project, backed by Depp's production company IN.2 Film, marks a significant step in his return to major Hollywood endeavors following a period of legal challenges and selective roles.

The announcement highlighted collaborations with producers Svetlana Dali, Grace Loh, Stephen Deuters, and Stephen Malit from IN.2 Film, alongside Tribune Pictures. Executive producers include Nevin Shalit, Andrew Fourman, Konstantin Elkin of World Visions, Michael Paletta of Tribune Pictures, and the late Michael Lang. Additional producers Natasha Rogal and Robert MacLean are attached through Tribune. No director or other cast members have been revealed, and production is slated to begin in late 2026.

Bulgakov wrote the novel in the Soviet Union between 1928 and 1940, though it faced censorship and was not fully published until after his death in 1967, when serialized excerpts appeared in a Moscow magazine. The story unfolds across two...