Johnny Depp is back in a big way, and he is not going quietly. The first teaser trailer for Day Drinker arrived on September 24, 2026, giving fans a dark, axe-swinging look at the actor’s return to major Hollywood studio films. The Lionsgate thriller stars Depp as a mysterious yacht guest named Kelly, alongside Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz. The movie opens in theaters on March 26, 2027.
A short 19-second preview landed a day earlier, on September 23, building tension with flickering candles, a deck of tarot cards, and a single frame of Depp in character. An axe crashes down onto the cards as his voice growls a warning that sets the tone for the entire film.
What Happens in the Day Drinker Teaser
The full teaser runs about one minute and thirty-four seconds and wastes no time pulling viewers into a dark, unpredictable world. Depp appears with grey hair, a scraggly beard, and a thick accent that several outlets have described as Irish.
The teaser opens with Depp’s character speaking about his past. He admits that trouble and bad behavior have helped him make a living, and he sees no reason to stop now. “Don’t you sometimes want to misbehave?” he asks.
“My story? Perhaps it’s a tale of revenge. Or perhaps something worse. What if all of this is a ghost story? Or maybe I’m just another day drinker?”
The trailer also shows a photo of Depp’s character with what appears to be his family. A scene follows where Madelyn Cline’s character touches another woman’s face, and the woman’s face turns into something ghost-like. Penélope Cruz’s character appears looking possessed.
The action turns deadly. Depp’s Kelly is shown being thrown to the ground and arrested, then later killing people with an axe and taking part in gunfights. A man tells Kelly he does not belong in the place. Kelly replies that he does not belong anywhere.
The teaser ends with the line that has already become the film’s unofficial tagline:
“You thought I was f—ing done? I’m done when I say I’m done.”
Who Is in the Day Drinker Cast
Johnny Depp leads the film as Kelly, also referred to as Mr. Kelly in director interviews. Madelyn Cline, known for Outer Banks, plays Lorna, a private-yacht bartender. Penélope Cruz plays a criminal figure whose character name has not yet been revealed.
The supporting cast includes Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle.
This marks the fourth time Depp and Cruz have worked together. They previously appeared in Blow (2001), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and Murder on the Orient Express (2017).
What Is Day Drinker About
The official synopsis describes a private-yacht bartender who encounters a mysterious onboard guest. The two soon find themselves entangled with a criminal figure and connected in ways no one saw coming.
Director Marc Webb has described the film as a supernatural revenge thriller with its own rules and mythology. He told ScreenRant that the story “trades on familiar rituals like Tarot” while teasing “a terrifying history that is always lurking in the shadows”.
Webb also compared Depp’s Mr. Kelly to another famous action character. “While Mr. Kelly feels increasingly dangerous, like John Wick, you will love him,” he said.
When and Where to Watch Day Drinker
Day Drinker opens in U.S. theaters on March 26, 2027. The film also releases in the UK on March 26, 2027, and in India and Australia on March 25, 2027. Lionsgate is handling distribution in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland.
The movie has not yet received a rating. It was filmed in Spain, including locations in Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Johnny Depp’s Return to Hollywood
Day Drinker is one of the first major Hollywood studio films to bring Depp back to the big screen following his highly publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. The trial concluded in late 2022, with both parties settling their appeals.
Depp’s other upcoming film, Ebenezer, a dark Gothic adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, releases on November 13, 2026. Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in that project.
Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer also revealed in August 2026 that Depp was in talks to return to his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a potential sixth Pirates film.
What the Director Says About Day Drinker
Marc Webb spoke with ScreenRant about what drew him to the project. He said the script felt like “an act of seduction” and described Mr. Kelly as “so charming and so mysterious”.
Asked about the shift from films like Gifted and Snow White to a darker action-thriller, Webb had a simple answer: “I was feeling naughty”.
Webb also praised Depp’s approach to the character. “I know Johnny is at his best when he is in disguise,” he said. “When he finds the character’s look, it’s as if a light goes on. He’s a virtuoso, there’s no other way to say it”.
The director explained that the film’s action is grounded in practical effects. “I wanted the violence that creeps into this incredibly eerie, supernaturally charged world to feel grounded but also beautiful and very real,” he said.
You May Also Like:
The Tarot Card and Axe Imagery
The 19-second preview that arrived on September 23 featured a Devil tarot card facing up, surrounded by lit candles. An axe then crashes down and destroys the cards. The Devil card in tarot is traditionally linked to themes like temptation, addiction, and material desire.
The teaser does not yet explain how the tarot imagery connects to Kelly or the wider story. Webb has confirmed that the film’s world has its own mythology, with Tarot serving as one of its familiar rituals.
Day Drinker releases in theaters on March 26, 2027.
Also Read: Johnny Depp in Talks for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’ Return as Captain Jack Sparrow
From K-drama comebacks to Hollywood blockbusters, VvipTimes has every entertainment update you need in one place.
Leave a Reply