Johnny Depp and Dior Sauvage extend their partnership.
First reported by Variety and confirmed by a source closing the deal, Depp and Dior Sauvage have extended a pact that will reportedly last three years and is worth more than $20 million, making it one of the most lucrative deals for celebrities. The Hollywood Reporter has also reached out to Dior representatives but has not heard back as of this writing.
While Depp came under scrutiny last year during a tumultuous lawsuit with his ex-wife Amber Heard, Dior Sauvage didn’t budge on the actor, who has helmed the fragrance since its launch in 2015. Three months after Depp emerged victorious from the defamation case, Dior Beauty promoted Depp in a new social campaign shared on the brand’s Instagram account. “Deep and authentic. Johnny Depp embodies the intoxicating magic of Sauvage,” Dior Beauty shared in September 2022, after an initial report in TMZ that he had made his pact again. Another post on the same day read: “More than ever, Johnny Depp is the soul of Sauvage.”
He can also be called successful. Bernard Arnault, CEO of Dior’s parent company LVMH, reported in January financial presentation that Dior Sauvage was a leader in fragrance sales by achieving “remarkable success … driven by the image of Johnny Depp.” Already a leader in the category, Arnault also said the fragrance showed strong growth.
News of the deal comes days ahead of what will no doubt be a global spectacle when Depp steps onto the Palais red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. His movie, Maïwenn’s Joan of Barryopens the festival on May 16. It will be his first big screen role since weathering the Heard controversy, following a 2020 release starring Andrew Levitas’ Minamata.
While Dior Sauvage stood behind Depp, he faced career setbacks due to the Heard drama that unfolded over several years, in which he was ousted by major Hollywood franchises, including pirates of the Caribbean And Fantastic beasts.
The Cannes appearance could be a defining moment for Depp’s comeback, and the Dior Sauvage deal appears to have been timed to coincide with the swell surrounding his return to the big screen. An experienced specialty distributor told us THR in a new report, “I haven’t seen the movie, but it feels like it was a good way for (Depp) to get back into everything.”
