‘Day Drinker’ Trailer Features Johnny Depp, Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz in Supernatural Thriller

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
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Although spring is still a ways off, Lionsgate is kicking off the excitement early with its upcoming film ‘Day Drinker’. This highly anticipated thriller has been teased for months, showcasing a moody atmosphere and a star-studded cast. The first official trailer has finally arrived, giving us a glimpse into the intriguing connections between a yacht bartender, a haunted stranger, and a dangerous crime figure.

The film brings together Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz alongside ‘Outer Banks’ star Madelyn Cline, with direction by Marc Webb and a script penned by Zach Dean. The production team includes Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, known for their work on the ‘John Wick’ franchise. Filming took place in Spain starting in 2025, and Lionsgate has set the release date for March 26, 2027, following a recent date shuffle.

On Thursday, the studio unveiled the first trailer, a 1 minute and 34 second preview that confirms the release date. This follows a brief 19-second teaser that hinted at the film’s eerie tone, featuring tarot cards and an ominous line from Depp.

According to the official logline, Cline plays a private-yacht bartender who encounters a mysterious guest portrayed by Depp. Their fates intertwine with Cruz’s character, a criminal figure, leading to unexpected connections. Deadline describes the film as a supernatural revenge thriller.

The trailer showcases a grizzled Depp with a scraggly beard and intense eyes, depicting scenes of combat involving guns and axes, alongside a possibly supernatural Cruz. A haunting image of a deceased woman sinking into the sea hints at the motive behind Depp’s quest for revenge.

Depp’s character reflects on his narrative, questioning whether it is a tale of revenge, something darker, a ghost story, or simply another day drinker. Deadline has drawn comparisons between his menacing portrayal and Max Cady, a role famously played by Javier Bardem in Apple’s ‘Cape Fear’.

For Depp and Cruz, this marks their fourth collaboration after ‘Blow’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’, and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. The Hollywood Reporter notes that this trailer represents another step in Depp’s comeback following his estrangement from Hollywood due to 2016 domestic abuse allegations and a 2022 defamation trial. His other upcoming release is Ti West’s ‘Ebenezer’, a remake of ‘A Christmas Carol’ set to debut on November 13.

Variety highlights that ‘Day Drinker’ is one of the first Hollywood-supported films to bring Depp back to the big screen post-trial. The film has been marketed heavily based on its impressive cast and its unique tone.

Cruz recently starred in the acclaimed Spanish epic ‘La Bola Negra’, also known as ‘The Black Ball’, which is a major contender in this awards season. In ‘Day Drinker’, she takes on a very different role as a formidable figure in a genre thriller.

This film also marks a significant step for Cline, who recently concluded her role in ‘Outer Banks’ with its fifth season in August. ‘Day Drinker’ is her first project since the series ended, following her appearance in the 2025 slasher ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. As she navigates a busy fashion week, the spotlight is on her ability to hold her own alongside two seasoned actors.

The supporting cast features Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle. The script is written by Zach Dean, known for ‘The Tomorrow War’ and co-writing ‘Fast X’, and the film is a co-production filmed in Spain.

With about six months left until its release, Lionsgate has ample time to generate excitement for a film that blends crime, mystery, and unexpected supernatural elements. The studio has taken over the release date initially set for the first part of ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’, which has now been moved to May 2028 for its second installment.

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