Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz Return to Action Thriller in Lionsgate’s “Day Drinker” (2027)

Lionsgate has scheduled the action thriller “Day Drinker” for theatrical release on March 26, 2027. The film follows a private-yacht bartender, played by Madelyn Cline, who encounters a mysterious guest portrayed by Johnny Depp. Their meeting draws both characters into a conflict with a criminal figure, embodied by Penélope Cruz, linking the trio in unexpected ways.

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The project reunites Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz, who previously shared screen time in *Blow*, *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides*, and *Murder on the Orient Express*. Direction is provided by Marc Webb, known for *The Amazing Spider-Man* and Disney’s *Snow White* remake. The screenplay is written by Zach Dean, whose credits include *The Tomorrow War* and *Fast X*. Production is overseen by Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, both of whom backed Lionsgate’s *John Wick* franchise. Additional producers are Adam Kolbrenner, Zach Dean, and Nathan Kahane.

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“Day Drinker” marks one of Depp’s first mainstream Hollywood releases since his high-profile legal disputes with ex-wife Amber Heard. After a 2020 U.K. libel case that required his exit from the *Fantastic Beasts* franchise, Depp secured a U.S. defamation victory in 2022. He had not been hired by a major U.S. studio since his role in 2018’s *Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald*. Since then he has appeared in international projects such as *Jeanne du Barry* (2023) and directed *Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness*. He is also slated to star in Paramount’s holiday-themed fantasy adventure “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” later in 2027.

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Lionsgate positioned “Day Drinker” to replace the studio’s previously announced title “The Resurrection of the Christ Part One,” which has been postponed to May 6, 2027. The shift suggests a strategic emphasis on a commercially viable action thriller featuring high-profile talent, while retaining the original project for a later release window.

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• Release date: March 26, 2027 (U.S. theaters)

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• Replacing: *The Resurrection of the Christ Part One* (now set for May 6, 2027)

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• Key cast: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Madelyn Cline

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• Director: Marc Webb

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• Screenwriter: Zach Dean

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• Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Adam Kolbrenner, Zach Dean, Nathan Kahane

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• Studio: Lionsgate

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Following “Day Drinker,” Lionsgate will revisit *The Resurrection of the Christ Part One* in May 2027. Meanwhile, Depp’s schedule includes the Paramount release of “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” in November 2027. The combined slate reflects a broader effort to re-integrate Depp into major U.S. studio projects while diversifying Lionsgate’s 2027 lineup.

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