Can Johnny Depp, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey save their careers at Cannes?

Troubled stars Johnny Depp, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey will have new film projects on sale at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival-related film market, as each actor tries to resurrect a once-heralded Hollywood career brought down by scandal, tragedy, lawsuits or investigations.

In the past, the embattled film and TV stars enjoyed the limelight at the festival, the international gathering spot on the French Riviera for cinema, fashion, glamour and super yachts. These men walked the red carpet in designer tuxedoes, hobnobbed at star-studded galas and were photographed partying on very rich people’s boats anchored in the harbor.

This year is different as each fights to avoid being “canceled,” if they haven’t been already. Basically, these men have to keep making movies, and hope that audiences and critics still care about what they have to offer. According to reports, these actors must also hope that people at the Cannes market will want to finance their new films’ production or distribution.

The market, or Marché du Film, is held in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival and is described as both a convention and as the world’s largest movie marketplace. In past years, it has been known to attract thousands of producers, directors, sales agents and other film industry professionals, who network, trade ideas and cut deals.

It’s not clear whether Depp, Baldwin and Spacey will be at the market themselves, which starts this week. It’s highly likely that Depp will be busy at his defamation trial against his former wife, Amber Heard. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor has alleged that Heard’s domestic violence allegations, following their messy 2016 divorce, led to him being canceled.

Depp’s new film project, on sale at the Cannes market, is a French period drama called “Jeanne Du Barry” in which Depp will play King Louis XV, according to Deadline. “Jeanne Du Barry” is Depp’s first movie since since “Minamata” in 2020. In that film, Depp played photojournalist Eugene Smith, who documented the effects of mercury poisoning in a Japanese village.

“Minamata’s” director Andrew Levitas accused MGM in 2021 of trying to “bury the film” because of Depp’s battered reputation, Deadline reported. In an interview, Depp also alleged that the film, which he said deserved to be seen, had been shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.

The film finally was released in February, earning mostly mixed reviews, with some critics calling it “heartfelt” and “compelling,” and praising Depp for “dialing back the ham.” But others said the movie was “jumbled,” “self-important” or too heavily reliant on political thriller and “tortured genius” cliches.

Meanwhile, Baldwin is trying to keep busy by forming a new film and TV production company, even as he faces multiple lawsuits and a criminal investigation over his role in the fatal Oct. 21 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his recent film, “Rust,” Deadline reported.

Baldwin’s partner in Persona Entertainment, actor and producer Anjul Nigam, was one of his producing partners on “Rust.” As producers for “Rust,”  Baldwin and Nigam face allegations that they engaged in reckless behavior and cost-cutting that led to led to the shooting.

Persona’s first production will be on sale at the Cannes market, Deadline reported. “False Awakening,” a psychological thriller, will star Baldwin, who also will executive produce. Baldwin will play a psychologist who is trying to help a man tap into his “higher powers” to confront his past and prevent him from spiraling into a violent psychosis, according to Deadline.

Nigam, best known for a recurring role in “Grey’s Anatomy,” told the Hollywood Reporter that he believes distributors will be receptive to “False Awakenings,” despite the ongoing investigation in Santa Fe County, New Mexico over Hutchins’ death.

“’Rust’ is obviously a horrific tragedy,” Nigam told the Hollywood Reporter. “The investigation will hopefully be resolved soon and will unveil what happened. Obviously, there will be people out there who will have negative perspectives, but we’re confident about continuing to make quality movies.”

When speaking about “Rust,” Nigam also echoed a sentiment expressed by Baldwin about picking up where they left off and finishing the Western — despite Hutchins’ death and any trauma suffered by cast and crew members. “We’re confident we’ll be able to complete the movie,” Nigam said. As for “False Awakenings,” Nigam told the Hollywood Reporter that the production is fully financed and filming is due to begin this summer.

But as Baldwin and Nigam hope they can find distributors for their new movie, it’s also notable that Baldwin once turned the Cannes market experience into his 2013 documentary, “Seduced and Abandoned,” which was directed by his friend James Toback. Baldwin appeared as himself in the documentary, trying to sell a movie concept. Other stars and directors, including Ryan Gosling, Jessica Chastain, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, also appeared as themselves in the film.

Unfortunately for Baldwin, the experience of making “Seduced and Abandoned” came back to haunt him in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2017.  Baldwin had to distance himself from Toback personally and professionally after the director was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 300 women, including stars like Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams.

Baldwin insisted to the Los Angles Times that he didn’t personally know about Toback’s sex life, although he admitted he was aware of Toback’s reputation “20, 25 years ago or more of hitting on (women), going up and saying provocative things to them. I’d heard of that.” However, Baldwin said, “In my time with Jimmy, it was absolutely, positively business.”

The #MeToo movement also has left Spacey struggling to resurrect his career. Two of Spacey’s new projects are being shopped at Cannes, the Hollywood Reporter said.

One is “Peter Five Eight,” described as a mystery set in a small town. Spacey plays “a charismatic man in a black sedan,” the Hollywood Reporter said. The film has already been completed and will be screened at Cannes. Spacey’s other film is “1242; Gateway to the West,” which is a historical drama “backed by Hungarian financing.”

Spacey’s career was pretty much derailed after he was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple men, including some who said they were teenagers when Spacey accosted them.

The allegations led to Spacey being replaced  by Christopher Plummer at the last minute in Ridley Scott’s 2017 film, “All the Money in the World.” Netflix also cut all ties with the actor after temporarily suspending production on the final season of his hit TV series, “House of Cards,” until it could complete an internal investigation.

While criminal charges eventually were dropped against Spacey in two cases in Massachusetts and Los Angeles, the actor has only been able to stay in the public eye by appearing in bizarre Christmas Eve videos he posted to his YouTube channel from 2018 to 2020. In the videos, he used the voice of his Frank Underwood character from “House of Cards.”