Following an on-gong series of embarrassing and damning allegations about the actor’s personal life, Disney has now formally cancelled Johnny Depp’s iconic role as the lovable pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow.
While Hollywood chiefs have for some weeks now branded Depp as being unemployable after the lengthy spat with his ex-wife Amber Heard, 36, who accused Depp of being physically abusive towards her and regularly abusing a number of powerful substances.
The 58-year-old star who has a huge array of blockbusters under his belt denied physically abusing Heard and is attempting to sue his ex for defamation.
Now, veteran Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed Depp’s fans worst fears and publicly announced that Depp, who has appeared as Jack Sparrow since the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise’s first movie, will no longer be cast in the role.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Pirates of the Caribbean producer revealed that Disney is working on a ‘Pirates 6’ script which will feature Suicide Squad actress Margot Robbie in a leading role, seemingly in an attempt to create a female version of the swashbuckling pirate.
Although Depp’s likeness as the Rockstar-like pirate is still being used by Disney for much of its official Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise, posters and even theme park rides across it’s parks, when asked if Depp would be in the new movie, Bruckheimer responded:
“Not at this point. The future is yet to be decided”.
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Jerry Bruckheimer says that they’re developing a Pirates of the Caribbean script with Margot Robbie set as the lead
He adds that “the future is yet to be decided” on whether Johnny Depp will return for the sequel.
(via @ST_Culture) pic.twitter.com/X27QzNSTOR
— Lights, Camera, Barstool (@LightsCameraPod) May 15, 2022
Meanwhile, during a court hearing, Depp hit back at the Mouse House, questioning its choice to cancel his role as the character but to continue to sell his likeness:
“They didn’t remove my character from the rides. They didn’t stop selling dolls of Captain Jack Sparrow. They didn’t stop selling anything. They just didn’t want there to be something trailing behind me that they’d find,” said the embattled star.
Last month in the court room, Depp said he wanted a chance to say a “proper goodbye” to the character, and that he had “put a lot of [himself]” into the part.
Depp added that he believed the character’s story should come to the proper end that it deserves:
“A franchise can last only so long. And there’s a way to end a franchise like that, and I thought the characters should have a way out, to end the franchise on a very good note. And I planned on continuing until it was time to stop,” he said last month.
“Captain Jack Sparrow was a character that I had built from the ground up, and was something that I put a lot of… you put a lot of yourself into characters,” he added.
“And also having worked on those films with those people, and having put a lot of my own rewriting, dialogue, scenes, and jokes and whatever they are.
“I didn’t quite understand how, after that long relationship, and quite a successful relationship, certainly for Disney, that suddenly I was guilty until proven innocent.”
Meanwhile, Pirates fans have screamed in unified defiance that movie won’t be worth watching without Depp in them.
“Johnny Depp created the character of Captain Jack Sparrow. No one can replace him. Disney lost a franchise,” Tom (@tmxlocked) wrote on Twitter.
Disney did Johnny Depp dirty but he still put on his Jack Sparrow costume, did a virtual hospital visit and talked to the children through a video call. Jack Sparrow lives in many hearts and smiles and you can never replace that #NoJohnnyNoPirates pic.twitter.com/wPw6KhVFmP
— 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐣𝐚 (@deppsintentions) June 27, 2020
“Disney did Johnny Depp dirty but he still put on his Jack Sparrow costume, did a virtual hospital visit and talked to the children through a video call. Jack Sparrow lives in many hearts and smiles and you can never replace that. #NoJohnnyNoPirates” commented Natasja (@deppsintentions).