Hollywood loves a pattern. It loves a redemption arc even more. When you look at Johnny Depp and Will Smith, you’re looking at two men who basically defined the "untouchable" A-list for thirty years, only to find themselves in the middle of two of the weirdest, loudest, and most polarizing career implosions in modern history.
People group them together constantly. It’s not just because they were both Google’s most-searched people in 2022. It’s because they represent two different flavors of how to survive a "cancellation." Honestly, if you saw them together on a yacht in Italy recently—which actually happened—it feels like a meeting of the survivors' club.
They’re friends. They hang out. They share a vibe that says, "Yeah, we’ve both been through it."
The Italy Connection: That Surprising Yacht Outing
Last summer, a photo popped up on Instagram that sent the internet into a bit of a tailspin. Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad posted a shot of himself sandwiched between Depp and Smith on a yacht in the South of France. Everyone looked relaxed. Tan. Unbothered.
They weren't just vacationing, though. Both were in town for Andrea Bocelli's three-day 30th-anniversary concert at the Teatro del Silenzio in Tuscany.
It was a weirdly poetic setting. Smith stood on stage and did a spoken-word rendition of "You’ll Never Walk Alone." Meanwhile, Depp was on guitar, backing Bocelli for a tribute to the late Jeff Beck. They were both there as "musicians" as much as actors. It’s a side hustle they both lean into when the movie studios get cold feet.
Actually, they’ve been seen together more than you'd think. They shared a pretty public embrace at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia a while back. For two guys who have been largely iced out by the traditional Oscar-adjacent Hollywood machine, they seem to have found a new playground in Europe and the Middle East.
Different Roads to Redemption
The public’s reaction to these two couldn’t be more different.
Johnny Depp went the route of total legal warfare. His 2022 trial against Amber Heard wasn't just a court case; it was a global event. By the time he won his defamation suit in Virginia, he had somehow flipped the narrative. He became a symbol for people who felt the "system" was biased. Even though he’s still a polarizing figure, his fanbase is ride-or-die.
Then you have Will Smith.
The Slap. We all saw it. We all have an opinion on it. Unlike Depp, who fought back against allegations, Smith’s "crime" happened in 4K in front of millions of people. He didn't have a "he said, she said" defense. He had to go on an apology tour.
It’s interesting to watch the fallout. Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years. Depp was dropped by Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts before his trial even finished. Yet, as we sit here in 2026, both are clawing their way back into the center of the frame.
What’s Next for the "Uncancelable" Duo?
If you think they're done, you haven't been paying attention to the trades.
Johnny Depp is leaning into the indie and European market. He’s starring in Day Drinker, a thriller with Penélope Cruz that’s expected to hit screens in 2026. He’s also directing again—Modì, a biopic about Amedeo Modigliani. He isn't waiting for Disney to call him back for Jack Sparrow (though rumors of a sixth Pirates movie never truly die). He’s building a career that doesn't rely on the "Mouse House."
Will Smith is taking a more "business as usual" approach. Bad Boys: Ride or Die proved he could still move tickets. It made a ton of money. Now, he’s doubling down on nostalgia.
- I Am Legend 2: This is the big one. He’s teaming up with Michael B. Jordan. Interestingly, they are ignoring the theatrical ending of the first movie and following the "alternate" DVD ending where Smith’s character survives.
- Fast & Loose: A high-octane Netflix project that was briefly shelved after the Oscars incident but is now back on track.
It’s basically the "Blockbuster Strategy." If you make people enough money, they eventually stop asking about the drama.
Why We Can't Stop Comparing Them
The comparison between Johnny Depp and Will Smith matters because it shows the limits of "cancel culture."
In Depp’s case, the "cancellation" felt like a slow bleed that he eventually cauterized with a massive legal win. In Smith’s case, it was a sudden, violent shock to his brand as "the nicest guy in Hollywood."
Both men are now in their late 50s and early 60s. They are "legacy" actors. They've realized that the world is bigger than just the Hollywood Hills. Whether it’s performing at concerts in Italy or filming thrillers in Europe, they are pivoting.
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They also both have kids who are in the spotlight. Depp was seen greeting Jaden Smith backstage at the Bocelli concert like an old family friend. There’s a sense of "us against the world" that seems to bond these high-level celebrities when they fall from grace.
The Reality Check
Is everything back to normal? Not really.
Depp still faces a lot of pushback from certain sectors of the industry and the public. You won't see him on a standard talk show circuit anytime soon. Smith’s Q-rating (the score that measures a celebrity's likability) took a massive hit and hasn't fully recovered to its Fresh Prince heights.
But they are working. And in Hollywood, that’s the only metric that truly counts.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Observers
If you're following the trajectories of these two, here is what the landscape looks like right now:
- Don't wait for a Pirates 6 confirmation yet. While producer Jerry Bruckheimer has expressed interest in Depp's return, the actor's focus is currently on his own production company, IN.2, and his directorial projects.
- Watch the international charts. Both stars are finding massive success in overseas markets (specifically Europe, Asia, and the Middle East) where the American domestic scandals carry less weight.
- Look for the "I Am Legend 2" release date. This will be the true test of Will Smith's "theatrical" power. If it breaks the box office, the "Slap" is officially moved to the history books.
- Follow the music. Both men are increasingly using live music as a way to connect with fans directly, bypass media filters, and show a "human" side that movies can't capture.
The reality is that Johnny Depp and Will Smith are no longer just actors. They are case studies in brand resilience. Whether you like them or not, they’ve proven that in the 2020s, "the end" is rarely actually the end.