The biggest film festival Cannes 2023 is all set to go on floors from May 16 to May 27 and a number of controversies have already clouded the glam affair including the Johnny Depp controversy.

The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival will open with the premiere of Depp starring Louis XV period drama titled, Jeanne du Barry, and fans expressed their distress over it.

Addressing the backlash, the Cannes 2023 festival director Thierry Fremaux openly defended Depp’s inclusion to festival, saying that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

"I don't know about the image of Johnny Depp in the U.S. To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework," Fremaux, 62, said.

He continued, "If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned, we wouldn't be here talking about it. So we saw Maiwenn's film, and it could have been in competition. She would have been the eighth female director."

"This [controversy] came up once the film was announced at Cannes because everybody knew Depp had made a film in France. He is extraordinary in the film in a role which is difficult. I don't know why she chose him, but it's a question you should ask Maiwenn."

"As for the rest, I'm the last person to be able to discuss all this. If there's one person in this world who didn't find the least interest in this very publicized trial, it's me. I don't know what it's about. I also care about Johnny Depp as an actor," he added.

Jeanne du Barry is Depp's first new film since his highly publicized trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard.