Johnny Depp collaborates with Russian producers: scandal surrounding the screen adaptation of Bulgakov.

According to ТСН: Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, who has previously expressed support for Ukraine, has become the subject of a scandal.

New project with Russian producers

At the Red Sea Film Festival, it became known that Depp's studio IN.2 Film will be producing the first English-language adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel. The collaboration with Russian producers has caused outrage within the Ukrainian audience.

The project's presentation took place at the festival in Saudi Arabia. On the red carpet with Depp were Russian Svetlana Migunova-Dali and Grace Lo — producers who have long worked together and are involved in a legal dispute with another company over a Russian-language adaptation of 'The Master and Margarita.'

Shooting planning

As noted by Variety, filming for the English-language version is scheduled to begin in late 2026. Steven Doyters, Steven Malit, and Russian Natasha Rogal will participate in the production.

Interestingly, Svetlana Migunova-Dali was born in Russia and later moved to the USA. In March of this year, she wrote the screenplay for a film about Russian figure skater Irina Rodnina. Among the production companies of the project is the propaganda channel 'Россия-1', while distribution was handled by the company 'Централ Партнершип', which is part of the Russian holding 'Газпром-Медиа'. Currently, she is working on a new version of Bulgakov's work together with Johnny Depp, who may appear in one of the key roles.

Reaction of Ukrainian experts

Experts from the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory consider Bulgakov one of the most consistent imperialists of his time. His works contain Ukrainian phobic messages that resonate with modern Kremlin propaganda. The film team is currently not commenting on whether they will take this context into account, which further fuels the debate surrounding the project.

Previous statements by Depp

It is worth noting that in 2023, during a Hollywood Vampires concert in Stuttgart, Johnny Depp presented a blue-yellow flag on a large screen and also met with Ukrainian artist Irina Fedorенко, originally from Mariupol, where they discussed Russian fakes about his tours in the Russian Federation, which were disseminated by Kremlin propaganda media.

It should also be noted that there was significant scandal surrounding 'Eurovision-2026', as five countries plan to boycott the contest for political reasons.

The situation surrounding Johnny Depp's project continues to provoke lively discussions in Ukraine. The actor's position, who previously demonstrated support for Ukraine, raises contradictions in the context of his new collaboration with Russian producers, which only emphasizes the complexity of the cultural and political context of the present day.