Amongst his many notable roles, actor Johnny Depp is famously recognized for portraying Captain Jack Sparrow within the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. For the reason that launch of the primary movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003, Depp has been in all 5 of the flicks and is arguably the face of the franchise.
The final Pirates of the Caribbean movie got here out in 2017, and there have been talks of a sixth movie not lengthy after. Some followers had been hoping the beloved Disney movies would return and provides closure to Jack Sparrow’s story, however Depp’s ongoing authorized battle along with his ex-wife and “Aquaman” actress Amber Heard has difficult his involvement. This is every thing we learn about Depp’s participation within the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Why Was Johnny Depp Dropped From Pirates of the Caribbean?
Depp and Heard married in 2015 after three years of relationship. They separated in Might 2016, with Heard submitting for divorce. On the time, Heard alleged Depp was bodily abusive all through their marriage (which Depp has denied), and he or she filed a restraining order towards him. The 2 settled their divorce in 2016, with Depp paying Heard a settlement of $7 million.
Two years later, Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Publish on Dec. 18, 2018, that was titled “I spoke up towards sexual violence — and confronted our tradition’s wrath. That has to vary,” through which the “Aquaman” actress wrote about her alleged experiences with sexual assault and home abuse. Though she by no means named Depp, given her earlier accusations and contextual clues all through the essay alluding to a timeline, many readers instantly suspected Depp was the alleged topic of the op-ed.
4 days after Heard’s piece went dwell, The Hollywood Reporter reported Depp wouldn’t be in future Pirates of the Caribbean films. Disney government Sean Bailey by no means particularly cited the op-ed and Heard’s allegations for his or her determination to cease working with Depp. As an alternative, Bailey instructed the publication on Dec. 22, 2018, that they had been trying to discover new storylines. “We wish to herald a brand new vitality and vitality. I really like the [Pirates] films, however a part of the explanation [writers] Paul [Wernick] and Rhett [Reese] are so fascinating is that we wish to give it a kick within the pants. And that is what I’ve tasked them with,” he mentioned. Depp would later be requested to resign from his position as Grindelwald within the Unbelievable Beasts franchise as properly (he was in the end changed by Mads Mikkelsen within the position).
Why Did Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Sue Every Different For Defamation?
Depp sued Heard for defamation, alleging the claims made in her op-ed had been false and that he was the one being abused all through their marriage. He sued for $50 million in damages. Later, Heard filed a defamation countersuit for $100 million, claiming statements Depp’s lawyer Adam Waldman made about her abuse claims being a “hoax” ruined her profession. Her attorneys cited her diminished position in “Aquaman 2” and a lower in different movie alternatives all through the trial.
On June 1, a Virginia jury returned a verdict discovering Heard accountable for defamation on all three of the statements made about Depp in her op-ed, awarding Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (since Virginia regulation caps punitive damages at $350,000, the punitive damages had been lowered accordingly). Depp was discovered accountable for defamation for one out of three of Waldman’s statements, for which Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages and $0 in punitive damages.
Will Johnny Depp Be in “Pirates of the Caribbean 6”?
Whereas it appeared Depp was accomplished with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for good, the end result of his defamation trial towards Heard appears to be turning the tide of public opinion on Depp on social media. That, on prime of a seemingly newfound openness from movie executives, may change the course of his involvement with the franchise.
As of Might, Depp’s nonetheless not concerned within the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, however the filmmakers behind the film are seemingly leaving the door open. Movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer spoke with The Sunday Instances and revealed that two scripts are within the works for “POTC6,” neither of which includes Depp . . . at the very least for now. When requested if Depp may return for the upcoming movie, he mentioned, “Not at this level. The long run is but to be determined.”
What Has Johnny Depp Mentioned About His Future in Pirates of the Caribbean?
As Depp has performed Jack Sparrow in 5 Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the character has had an influence on him. Referring to the primary movie, the actor testified within the 2022 defamation trial (through The Unbiased), “I did not see it. However I consider that the movie did fairly properly, apparently, and so they needed to maintain going, making extra, and I used to be advantageous to try this.” As well as, Depp spoke about his portrayal of the character and viewers reception, saying, “I believed that it is perhaps a personality who could be accepted by five-year-olds and 45-year-olds, 65-year-olds, and 85-year-olds in the identical manner that Bugs Bunny is.”
Nevertheless, after Disney distanced itself from him, he mentioned he would by no means work with the movie-making large once more. On the stand, he was questioned by Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn, who requested the actor (through Selection), “The very fact is, Mr. Depp, if Disney got here to you with $300 million and 1,000,000 alpacas, nothing on this earth would get you to return and work with Disney on a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie? Right?” To which Depp responded, “That’s right, Mr. Rottenborn.”
Because the Depp v. Heard defamation trial is coming to a detailed, there is not any approach to know the way the end result will have an effect on Depp or his participation in a brand new Pirates of the Caribbean film. The one definitive reply in the intervening time is that he’s nonetheless not presently connected to the movie. And he could not wish to be.
