“Minamata” director criticizes MGM’s desire to “bury” Depp’s new film

The real historical adaptation of “Minamata” starring Johnny Depp was originally scheduled to be released in North America on February 5 this year, but the schedule was cancelled for some reason.

Recently, the director of the film, Andrew Levitas, issued an open letter criticizing the release of Fang MGM for wanting to hide the film.

Because of the domestic violence lawsuit, Johnny Depp was controversial.

Andrew Levitas wrote: “I don’t understand why the private life of an actor (Johnny Depp) is more important than the suffering of industrial pollution victims.”

Regarding Andrew Levitas’ open letter, MGM stated that the film still has plans to release the film in the United States, but the schedule has not yet been determined.

“Minamata” is adapted from a book written by Eugene Smith and his wife.

In 1956, the strange disease “Minamata disease” caused by mercury pollution broke out in Japan. Eugene, played by Johnny Depp, was commissioned to come to Japan to record this strange disease.

In addition to Johnny Depp, the film starring also includes Bill Nighy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Tadanobu Asano, etc.

In 2018, the British “Sun” claimed that Depp was a (wife-beater), and Depp sued the newspaper for “defamation”.

On November 2, 2020, the British court found that Depp lost the case. The judge believed that Depp had repeatedly attacked his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Subsequently, Depp was expelled from the crew of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3” by Warner, and Disney “Pirates of the Caribbean” restarted and no longer sought him out. He no longer participated in the new series “Harry Houdini” produced by Jerry Bruckheimer…

Although many fans have launched the “Seek Justice for Depp” campaign on the Internet, the situation has not changed.

Andrew Levitas wrote in an open letter to MGM: “Minamata disease is the most heinous industrial pollution incident in history. The long-term marginalized groups have exposed their pain when sharing their stories. This matter is brought up from the shadow of history, so that other innocent people will never be tortured like them… With MGM’s cooperation last year, a decades-long wish seems to be about to come true.”

“But now, these victims learn that despite the fact that the film has been promoted globally for a long time, MGM decided to’bury the film” (the original words of the acquisition manager Sam Wallman) because MGM was worried The personal problems of a certain actor in the film may have a negative impact on them. From the perspective of MGM, the victims of Minamata disease and their families are secondary. We firmly believe that MGM will stand on the right side. The film production People, victims, their families, various non-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, etc., are eagerly awaiting opportunities for cooperation.”

Related Post: Depp: It feels like Hollywood is boycotting me, causing “Minamata” to not be released .