Johnny Depp Inks Development Deal With Cryptocurrency Platform

The deal is with TaTaTu, a newly formed platform founded by Andrea Iervolino, who co-runs AMBI Media Group.

Johnny Depp is teaming up with TaTaTu, a cryptocurrency-centric social entertainment platform run by entrepreneur Andrea Iervolino.

The pact calls for the two sides to develop and produce film and digital content together, with Depp working via his Infinitum Nihil production banner. Iervolino, who continues to run AMBI Media Group with Monica Bacardi, will work via his recently launched venture.

The partnership formalizes and moves forward a relationship between the two men that began with Waiting for the Barbarians, the adaptation of the J.M. Coetzee award-winning novel that begins shooting later in October in Morocco. AMBI is producing the drama, which will star Depp, Mark Rylance and Robert Pattinson, with TaTaTu now also coming on board.

“Johnny has the ability to conceptualize material in a way that few can, and is unburdened of conventional industry formulas that dictate the projects that get made, traditionally,” enthused Iervolino in a statement. “As we make strides to embrace disruptiveness, Johnny will be a key collaborator with us and we are tremendously excited to back his visions and instincts on stories to bring to life.”

Stated Depp, “In this era of democratized entertainment, I admire the imaginative ethos of Andrea and look forward to collaborating together in a liberating, progressive manner that will befit the principals of our respective entities.”

Launched six months ago, TaTaTu has been making moves in the acquisition space, as well as creating film and TV content. It is working on a Lamborghini biopic to star Antonio Banderas and Alec Baldwin; an original documentary on two-time Jeremy Renner; and a Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino film titled The Sound of Freedom. And it acquired a documentary on filmmaker William Friedkin titled Friedkin Uncut.

TaTaTu trades on cryptocurrency exchange Liquid and uses token to pay creators and users. The company closed a $575 million token pre-sale this summer, according to the company’s announcement.