North American audiences will finally be able to watch Minamata. Written and directed by Andrew Levitas, the harrowing drama details the effects of mercury poisoning in local communities in Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan, as a result of a major corporation dumping chemicals into the waterways. Depp plays war photographer W. Eugene Smith who flies to Japan in the early 1970s to document the devastating effect this had on so many lives.

While Minamata has been released overseas, it has yet to be released in North America. In July, Andrew Levitas accused MGM of trying to "bury the film" in response to the actor's legal and personal problems with ex-wife Amber Heard, along with the accompanying controversy. The company responded at the time that Minamata's U.S. release date was still to be announced, but now it looks like the movie is out of MGM's hands. It's now being reported that Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment will instead partner up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to release Minamata in North American theaters starting on Dec. 15, extending across U.S. and Canada into 2022.

“I am thrilled that North American audiences will finally be able to learn about what happened and continues to happen in Minamata and around the world," Andrew Levitas told Deadline. "The silencing of marginalized voices and those left behind (as well artists) by large corporate behemoths has to end, and with new like-minded partners this story will finally come to light in North America and hopefully offer some peace to the victims and their families who have been put through far too much.”

Andrea Iervolino of ILBE, which previously backed the 2019 Johnny Depp movie Waiting for the Barbarians, added, "Anchored by standout performances and stunning direction and craft artistry, Minamata is the kind of purposeful storytelling that sinks in with audiences and a movie they will appreciate seeing. We’re thrilled to be able to orchestrate a release campaign alongside Samuel Goldwyn that will invite audiences into this story.”

David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Jason Forman, and Andrew Levitas wrote the screenplay for Minamata. Along with Johnny Depp, it stars Bill Nighy, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Asano Tadanobu, and Akiko Iwase. Levitas produced for Metalwork Pictures alongside Depp for Infinitum Nihil, as well as Sam Sarkar, Bill Johnson, and Kevan Van Thompson.

"We looked these people in the eyeballs and promised we would not be exploitative. That the film would be respectful. I believe that we've kept our end of the bargain, but those who came in later should also maintain theirs," Depp previously said in August, frustrated that it still hadn't gotten its wide release. "Some films touch people. And this affects those in Minamata and people who experience similar things. And for anything... For Hollywood's boycott of me? One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years? But, you know, I'm moving towards where I need to go to make all that... To bring things to light."

Audiences in the U.S. and Canada will soon enough get their chance to see it. Minamata will be released in theaters starting on Dec. 15 and the plan is also to submit the movie for major awards consideration. This news comes to us from Deadline.