Johnny Depp Praises ‘Dear, Brilliant Friend’ Robert Downey Jr.’s Broadway Debut

Johnny Depp is a big fan of Robert Downey Jr.’s Broadway debut.

Depp, 61, shared on Instagram Thursday, Oct. 3, that he attended a performance of Downey’s new play McNeal at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

“Most fortunate to witness my dear, brilliant friend Bob Downey and the superb cast of ‘McNeal’ last night at @lctheater. Outstanding! Go see it if you can!!!” wrote Depp.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor was in New York City for the opening of his own immersive and experiential art exhibit titled A Bunch of Stuff this week.

He said in a previous statement, “Through the magic and madness of life, art has been my sanctuary. These pieces, born of different stages of my journey are a residue of a life lived. Creation is not always a comfortable process, but for me it’s a necessary one.”

Oscar-winner Downey confirmed in May that he would make his Broadway debut this fall for a strictly limited engagement.

He wrote on Instagram at the time, “It’s been 40 years since I was last on ‘the boards,’ but hopefully I’ll knock the dust off quick. McNeal is a timely and important story about the future of creatives, and I intend to do it justice.”

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In the play, the Iron Man actor plays Jacob McNeal, who is “one of our greatest” writers and a “perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature,” per a synopsis, which adds, “But, McNeal also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with artificial intelligence.”

Other figures who have seen McNeal this week include Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn, Jason Bateman, Justin Theroux, Will Arnett, Paul Rudd and Matt Damon.

Tickets to McNeal are now on sale. The play is currently set for a limited engagement through Nov. 24.