Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer behind thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms, is commenting on starJohnny Depp’s future with the franchise.
Speaking with the U.K.‘sThe Sunday Times, Bruckheimer promoted his new filmTop Gun: Maverickand was asked about the status of anotherPiratesmovie. The fifth film, subtitledDead Men Tell No Tales, debuted in theaters back in 2017. It was previously reported that the series would berebooted with Margot Robbie in a lead role.
Bruckheimer, 78, confirmed the female-led film is still in development, as is another version without 31-year-old Robbie: “Yes. We’re talking to Margot Robbie. We are developing twoPiratesscripts — one with her, one without.”
When asked if Depp would return, Bruckheimer told the newspaper, “Not at this point. The future is yet to be decided.”
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The star earned an Oscar nomination for playing Capt. Jack Sparrow in the original 2003 filmPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The sequels came out in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2017.
Johnny Depp inPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales(2017).Peter Mountain/Walt Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
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Heard, 36, and Depp met while making the 2011 movieThe Rum Diary, and they married in 2015. They broke up in May 2016, when Heard sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, accusing him of abusing her. Depp denied the claims, and the former couple settled theirdivorceout of court in August 2016.
When he concluded his testimony, Depp — who has said multiple times under oath that he has never struck Heard or any woman — said, after Heard’s allegations against him, he lost “nothing short of everything.”
Heard has testifiedabout multiple incidents of alleged domestic violence, as well as several cases when she says he sexually assaulted her during their relationship.
Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp in 2003.Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Depp has testified that his “goal is the truth” as he seeks to clear his name in this trial, which is being televised live via various outlets. Ahead of the trial, Heard said in a statement that “hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny. I have always maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me great pain to have to live out the details of our past life together in front of the world.”
Johnny Depp; Amber Heard.Jim LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP/Getty (2)
While discussing his falling out with Disney executives, however, Depp said he felt he’d become “guilty until proven innocent.” The star said on the stand that he would not work with Disney again, even if they offered him $300 million.
In recent years, Depp has done parts in several independent films, includingMinamata. Heard will next reprise her role in next year’sAquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Depp resigned from his role in theFantastic Beastsfranchise, a Warner Bros. property, back in November 2020 after losinghis highly publicized U.K. libel lawsuit caseagainst British tabloidThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.
Mads Mikkelsen was recast in his role for the recently releasedFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. About taking over the part from Depp, Mikkelsen toldThe Hollywood Reporterin April, “I wasn’t like, ‘Oh please let me talk to him.’ It would have been great to touch bases, ‘clean the room’ in a sense. Maybe I’ll see him in the future.”
source: people.com
