Johnny Depp is unlikely to return as Captain Jack Sparrow in future "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. At least "not at this point," according to producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Bruckheimer discussed the future of the Disney franchise.
Depp played Jack Sparrow in the first five “Pirates” films and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Curse of the Black Pearl.” The most recent film in the series, “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” premiered in 2017.
Two “Pirates” are scripts in development, Bruckheimer said. Asked whether Depp would appear in the sixth "Pirates" film, Bruckheimer responded, "Not at this point."
"The future is yet to be decided," he said.
Depp is involved in a widely publicized defamation trial. He is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million in damages over a 2018 essay she wrote for The Washington Post, in which she said she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." The essay does not name Depp, but Depp's legal team claims the essay harmed his career. Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million.
The trial, which is being livestreamed, has dominated social media with memes and discussions about domestic violence.
Under questioning from his lawyer last month, Depp alleged that Disney cut ties with him after The Post published Heard's essay.
During cross-examination, Heard's lawyer Ben Rottenborn brought up a Daily Mail article published in October 2018, months before Heard's essay, which reported that Depp was "out as Jack Sparrow."
"I wasn't aware of that, but it doesn't surprise me," Depp testified. "Two years had gone by of constant worldwide talk about me being this wife beater. So I'm sure that Disney was trying to cut ties to be safe. The #MeToo movement was in full swing at that point."
Depp was also asked about his comments a year ago that he would never return to the “Pirates” franchise, regardless of how much money Disney offered.
“The fact is, Mr. Depp, if Disney came to you with $300 million and a million alpacas, nothing on this Earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film? Correct?” Rottenborn asked.
Depp confirmed that he made the statement at a news conference at the 2021 San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain.
Depp responded: "That is true, Mr. Rottenborn."
Disney kept the character elsewhere in its universe.
"They didn't remove my character from the rides," Depp said in his testimony. "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."
