Could Johnny Depp be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise?

Virgin Radio

6 Mar 2023, 08:47

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer wants to bring him home.

Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean series, has once more expressed admiration for Johnny Depp and suggested that they may work together again in the future.

Depp initially portrayed the pirate Jack Sparrow in 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and went on to reprise the character in the sequels Dead Man's Chest, At World's End, and On Stranger Tides. He made his final appearance as Sparrow in 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales.

However, Depp's involvement in the franchise was brought to a halt due to domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Amber Heard, which resulted in him filing a defamation lawsuit in the United States. The high-profile case concluded last year, with Depp being awarded $50 million in damages.

Since the verdict, Depp's supporters have called for Disney to rehire the actor for the series. Bruckheimer seems to be on board, expressing his support for the actor on several occasions.

Asked about the possibility of Depp returning to the franchise during a recent interview with Deadline, the 79 year old said, "He’s just so good at what he does and actors recover from things like this."

The Beverly Hills Cop producer continued, "[Depp is] a good individual and he’s a caring individual. He’s somebody that you can rely on and he’s just terrific. I think Johnny is an utter friend and an amazing artist and, again, you go through things in life you wish you hadn’t, but he’s still a talented artist."

Bruckheimer has previously made it clear he’d "love" to have Depp back in the role.

Asked by The Hollywood Reporter last year if Disney would bring Depp back, Bruckheimer replied with: "You’d have to ask them. I can’t answer that question. I really don’t know."

He added, "I would love to have him in the movie. He’s a friend, a terrific actor and it’s unfortunate that personal lives creep into everything we do."

In June of 2022, rumours circulated that Disney was interested in reconciling with Johnny Depp for a potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, Depp's representatives dismissed the reports as untrue, stating to NBC, "This is made up."

During his defamation trial, Depp himself clarified that he had no intention of returning to work with Disney. When questioned by Amber Heard's lawyer, Ben Rottenborn, about whether he had made a statement that "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," Depp replied, "That is true, Mr. Rottenborn."