IN PICS | Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Johnny Depp, ‘Jeanne du Barry’ & plenty to talk about

Johnny Depp was feted by fans on Tuesday as he arrived on the red carpet for the screening of his comeback movie at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, which has sparked anger over the choice to celebrate the divisive megastar.

Johnny Depp was feted by fans on Tuesday as he arrived on the red carpet for the screening of his comeback movie at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, which has sparked anger over the choice to celebrate the divisive megastar. (Photo | AP) 

Depp, 59, sporting a ponytail and shades, spent several minutes schmoozing with screaming fans, posing for selfies and signing autographs, before the screening of French period drama 'Jeanne du Barry', in which he plays King Louis XV. (Photo | AP)

Depp remains a controversial figure since toxic court battles with ex-wife Amber Heard that revealed a turbulent private life involving alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse allegations. IN PIC: Johnny Depp, left, and director Maiwenn. (Photo | AP)

But he is a long way from being 'cancelled', securing a record $20 million deal to remain the face of Dior fragrance, according to Variety last week, and set to direct Al Pacino in a biopic of artist Amedeo Modigliani later this year. (IN PIC: Director Maiwenn, from left, Johnny Depp, Pierre Richard, and Benjamin Lavernhe) (Photo | AP)

On Monday, festival director Thierry Fremaux said he was not interested in Depp's legal woes, saying: 'I am interested in Depp the actor.' IN PIC: Director Maiwenn, Johnny Depp, and Pierre Richard. (Photo | AP)

A group of 123 French film industry workers also denounced the festival for 'rolling out the red carpet to men and women who commit assaults.' IN PIC: Djibril Djimo, from left, Diego Le Fur and Johnny Depp. (Photo | AP)

But there was plenty of anger online, with a friend of Heard, journalist Eve Barlow, starting a new hashtag -- #CannesYouNot -- criticising the decision to invite Depp. 'Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers,' Barlow wrote on Instagram, with pictures of Depp alongside past Cannes regulars such as Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski and Gerard Depardieu -- all of whom have faced sexual assault allegations. (Photo | AP)

Pascal Greggory, from left, Pierre Richard, Suzanne de Baecque, India Hair, director Maiwenn and Benjamin Lavernhe pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Jeanne du Barry' at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Photo | AP)

Although his new film is playing out of competition, the jury for the Palme d'Or was asked about Depp's presence. Jury member Brie Larson, star of 'Captain Marvel' and an outspoken MeToo supporter, looked flustered. 'You are asking me that? I don't understand... Why me specifically?' she said. 'I don't know how I feel about it,' she added, curtly. (Photo | AP)

Workers roll out the red carpet for the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Cannes film festival runs from May 16 until May 27 2023. (Photo | AP)