‘Day Drinker’ Star Johnny Depp Takes ‘Chewing the Scenery’ Literally at a Las Vegas Rum Party

Johnny Depp has built a career on larger-than-life characters, and the actor’s Las Vegas appearance this week proved his flair for the theatrical doesn’t switch off when the cameras stop rolling for a movie. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star is in the middle of a busy stretch, and his latest public outing came with a side of foliage.

The setting was Drink Las Vegas, a 4-day food and drink festival running from September 24 to 27. The event brings chefs, drinks specialists, and celebrity guests together across MGM Resorts properties, including Bellagio, ARIA, The Cosmopolitan, and Park MGM, and Depp wasn’t the only famous face in town, with Shaquille O’Neal and Sammy Hagar also attending.

Things took a strange turn at Park MGM. In footage from an after-party for Depp’s rum brand, Three Hearts, the actor turned to the step-and-repeat wall and buried his face in the greenery. In a video obtained by TMZ, he bit a leaf from the backdrop and chewed on it in front of attendees.

Depp then held the leaf in his mouth and smiled for the cameras before spitting it out and going back for more. On his second attempt, he bit off a stem with several leaves and posed with the greenery dangling from his mouth.

Johnny Depp is known for never blending into the background … but at Drink Vegas at Park MGM, he literally started eating it. 🎥 Instagram / @jpasc24 https://t.co/hqrhOtGszC

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 26, 2026

He dressed the part of an eccentric rock-and-roll host, wearing a black waistcoat, a cowboy hat and orange-tinted sunglasses. He also sported a loose bandana around his neck and weighty rings on seemingly every finger, while raising his glass for photographers throughout.

By most accounts, the moment was harmless fun. Depp seemed to be in good spirits, suggesting he was simply having a bit of fun with photographers. The hedge itself was an artificial one, so no actual plants were harmed in the making of this viral clip.

Don’t you sometimes want to misbehave?

Day Drinker starring Johnny Depp, Madelyn Cline, and Penélope Cruz – in theaters March 26, 2027. pic.twitter.com/UHhRAGKwI7

— Day Drinker (@DayDrinkerMovie) September 24, 2026

Still, the setting invited some raised eyebrows given the conversation surrounding the actor. His drinking habits have been discussed over the years, and in 2025, Alice Cooper said Depp stayed away from alcohol while they toured together. Later that year, however, Depp was seen drinking during an interview with the Times of London.

The timing of the stunt couldn’t have been more on brand. The outing coincided with the release of the first teaser for his upcoming thriller ‘Day Drinker’. Lionsgate will release the film in theaters on March 26, 2027.

Directed by Marc Webb, the film follows a private-yacht bartender played by Madelyn Cline who encounters a mysterious onboard guest played by Depp, with both becoming entangled with a criminal figure played by Penélope Cruz. The project marks Depp and Cruz’s 4th film together, continuing a screen partnership that stretches back more than 2 decades.

The teaser has already sparked speculation about just who, or what, Depp is playing. It offers a full moon, a growl on the soundtrack and an axe, without ever revealing what his character Kelly actually is. Some viewers have guessed he could be a vampire, though another supernatural creature remains possible.

The Vegas antics also arrive as Depp gears up for a double feature. ‘Ebenezer’ is scheduled for release on November 13, ahead of ‘Day Drinker’, marking a significant return following his long absence from Hollywood after the legal battles involving ex-wife Amber Heard.

‘Day Drinker’ has also been described as his most notable movie since that fallout. With a major studio release on the way, Depp seems to be leaning into his reputation as a showman, both on screen and at the occasional Vegas after-party.

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