First look at Johnny Depp as war photographer W. Eugene Smith in 'Minamata'

Principal photography is underway on Minamata, which stars Johnny Depp as celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith.

Bill Nighy has joined the cast of the film, which is being directed by Andrew Levitas. Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase and Jun Kunimura co-star.

The project will shoot in Japan, Serbia, and Montenegro. It was developed by Depp’s production entity Infinitum Nihil and the actor is also producing alongside Infinitum Nihil’s Sam Sarkar, Levitas under his Metalwork Pictures banner and Gabrielle Tana.

David K. Kessler adapted the story from Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith’s book, it is a redemptive thriller pitting Smith against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan in 1971.

HanWay Films is handling sales on the project, which will continue during the European Film Market in Berlin next week. The company’s slate also features Lone Scherfig’s The Kindness Of Strangers, which will open the Berlinale this year.

CAA Media Finance handles US rights on Minamata.