Al Pacino to headline the cast of Modi, an ode to Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, directed by Johnny Depp and played by Italian star Riccardo Scarmacio.
Pacino, who starred alongside Depp in 1997's "Donnie Brasco" and was announced as Modi's co-producer last year, will play famed collector Maurice Gangnat. Yves Saint Laurent star Pierre Niney will play the friend of Modigliani, the French artist Maurice Utrillo.
Modi is not a biopic. The screenplay is based on the play by Dennis McIntyre, which takes place in just 48 hours. In real life, Modigliani moved from Venice to Paris in 1906, where he became part of the city's bohemian scene alongside Utrillo and the writer Beatrice Hastings, the first English muse of Modigliani. Modigliani he painted his elongated portraits predominantly between 1916 and 1919, the year before he died of tuberculosis aged 35.
“This is a snapshot of the life of Modigliani which gives us insight into his struggle as an artist suffering from lack of recognition and a project that Al and I have pursued for many years,” producer Barry Navidi told Deadline. “Our incredible cast, along with the vision, wit and sensibility I know Johnny will bring to the making, will make this dream come true.”