Italy’s RAI Cinema Unveils Star-Studded 2025/26 Lineup Featuring Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz in ‘Day Drinker’
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Italy’s prestigious RAI Cinema has become the first international distributor to announce its acquisition of Day Drinker, a highly anticipated film marking Johnny Depp’s return to Hollywood after his well-publicized legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard. The announcement came as part of the Italian company’s 2025/26 lineup reveal on Wednesday.
Paolo Del Brocco, head of RAI Cinema—the cinematic arm of Italy’s state broadcaster RAI—described Day Drinker as “a great action movie featuring an almost unrecognizable Johnny Depp with long grey hair and a beard.” The film was acquired jointly by RAI Cinema and Italy’s Leone Film Group from Lionsgate.
Directed by Marc Webb, known for 500 Days of Summer and Snow White and the Huntsman, Day Drinker reunites Depp and Penélope Cruz for their fourth collaboration, following Blow, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Murder on the Orient Express. The cast also includes rising star Madelyn Cline alongside Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle.
Set against the backdrop of a private yacht, the story centers on a bartender (Cline) who encounters a mysterious guest (Depp). Their encounter spirals into danger when they cross paths with a criminal figure (Cruz), entangling their lives in unforeseen ways. Although RAI Cinema has yet to announce a release date for Day Drinker, anticipation is high given its star power and gripping premise.
A Stellar International Slate
RAI Cinema’s announcement also highlighted other major international titles slated for release. These include Olivier Assayas’ The Wizard of the Kremlin, featuring Jude Law as a young Vladimir Putin, which will be sold by Gaumont; Paul Feig’s thriller The Housemaid starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried; and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third installment of the popular magician heist series, featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher, also from Lionsgate.
Spotlight on Italian Cinema
On the domestic front, RAI Cinema’s upcoming roster boasts a number of promising Italian productions. Acclaimed director Giuseppe Tornatore is finalizing a documentary on Italy’s “King of Cashmere,” Brunello Cucinelli, titled Brunello, the Gracious Visionary. Nanni Moretti’s It Will Happen Tonight stars Louis Garrel and Jasmine Trinca, and is among the notable Italian narrative films in the pipeline.
Documentary auteur Gianfranco Rosi returns with Below The Clouds, a deeply personal exploration of Naples and its environs. Rosi’s previous works, Fire at Sea and Sacro GRA, earned top honors at Berlin and Venice film festivals, respectively. His latest is widely tipped for a premiere at Venice, adding further prestige to RAI Cinema’s lineup.
With Day Drinker leading the charge, RAI Cinema’s 2025/26 slate signals a vibrant year ahead, blending international blockbusters with rich, culturally resonant Italian cinema. For fans of Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, and global film enthusiasts alike, this announcement marks an exciting return to the spotlight and a fresh wave of cinematic storytelling from Italy’s foremost film institution.
