Jerry Bruckheimer Comments On Johnny Depp's Future With The 'Pirates' Franchise
By Kristin Myers on May 17, 2022 at 8:30 AM EDT
Actor Johnny Depp may have won back fans during his legal battle with Amber Heard, but it may not be enough to secure him a return to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently spoke with the U.K.'s The Sunday Times to promote his upcoming film “Top Gun: Maverick,” starring Tom Cruise. During the conversation, he was asked about Depp’s potential future with the Disney franchise.
Jerry Bruckheimer Sheds Doubt On Johnny Depp’s Return To ‘Pirates 6’
It’s been a few years since the last “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie was shown in theaters. The last movie, “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” hit theaters in 2017. At the time, it was rumored that the series would undergo a female-led reboot, with Margot Robbie cast in the lead role.
In his conversation with The Sunday Times, Bruckheimer confirmed Robbie’s film is still in development. There is also another version of the film that is in development without Robbie. “Yes. We're talking to Margot Robbie. We are developing two Pirates scripts — one with her, one without,” he said.
When asked if Depp will make a return, Bruckheimer told the publication, “Not at this point. The future is yet to be decided.”
It remains to be seen if Depp will be invited back to the franchise if he’s able to win his legal battle against ex-wife Amber Heard. He is suing the “Aquaman” actress for $50 million dollars over a December 2018 op-ed that was published in the Washington Post, in which she declares herself a survivor of domestic abuse. Although she did not specify Depp by name, Depp claims that he lost several big-budget roles as a result of the allegations, including a $22.5 million paycheck that he would have received if he had done “Pirates 6.”
Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Are Making Headlines In Publicized Defamation Trial
The highly-publicized trial has been making headlines over the past few weeks, with even celebrities weighing in and taking sides. Heard has recalled graphic allegations of domestic violence while on the stand, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse. At one point in the trial, she alleged that Depp sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle while Depp was filming “Pirates 5” in Australia.
However, as Depp’s attorney pointed out during cross-examination, Heard never sought medical assistance for her injuries, despite her testimony that she was “bleeding from her vagina.”
Depp, who took the stand earlier in the trial, denied that he had ever hit Heard – or any woman. In May 2016, Heard had taken out a domestic violence temporary restraining order against Depp and accused him of domestic abuse. Depp denied the claims and the couple later settled their divorce out of court in August 2016.
During his testimony, Depp said that he had wanted to continue playing the character of Jack Sparrow in “Pirates 6,” even though he previously indicated that he didn’t want to return to the franchise, not even for $300 million dollars. While on the stand, he said that he wanted to give fans of the franchise a “proper goodbye” and that he had planned to stay with the franchise “until it was time to stop.”
Depp was also dropped from 2022’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.” Depp had played the role of Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The role was later given to “Hannibal” star Mads Mikkelsen.
Depp said that producers had treated him as “guilty until proven innocent” after Heard’s domestic abuse claims went public in December 2018, to coincide with the release of DC’s “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa.
On Monday afternoon, Heard had testified that she had lost “a bunch” of scenes in the “Aquaman” sequel, titled “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” Fans have been circulating a petition to remove her from the franchise completely, which has now received over 4 million signatures. It is rumored that Heard has less than ten minutes of screentime in the “Aquaman” sequel, which is scheduled to be released next year.
It remains to be seen if Depp will be able to win this legal battle against Heard. In November 2020, he lost his U.K. libel lawsuit against the British tabloid “The Sun.” Even if he loses this legal battle, it is likely that Depp will appeal the ruling. Similarly, should Heard lose, it is likely that she will appeal the ruling as well.
