The possible return of Johnny Depp to reprise his iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie has not been ruled out by Disney.
The actor, 59, was kicked out of the franchise by the company in 2018 as they wanted to bring “new energy” to the much-loved films.
But in a recent interview with The New York TimesDisney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey discussed the future of the sixth film and left the door open for Depp’s potential return.
“We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors previous films, but also has something new to tell,” he said.
When asked if Depp could be a part of that story, Bailey said the studio was “non-committal at this point.”
There is hope! Johnny Depp’s return to reprise his iconic Captain Jack Sparrow persona in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie hasn’t been ruled out by Disney; Depp seen in 2023
And while that’s not a resounding yes, it’s not exactly a no either.
Depp last played the swashbuckling character in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017.
Rumors of Depp’s return to the franchise also swirled around last year.
At the time, it was reported that the actor was in talks with Disney over a “$300 million deal” after winning his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, though sources later confirmed to DailyMail.com that the information was false.
The Edward Scissorhands star previously told the jury that he would not work with Disney again after being eliminated from the sixth Pirates film.
His legal team claims Depp lost $22 million in wages after Heard published his Washington Post op-ed in 2018 which did not identify Depp but clearly labeled him a domestic abuser.
Depp said he felt like he was “guilty until proven guilty” with Disney executives.
Depp sued Heard for the op-ed she wrote, describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic violence.”
Leave the door open: When asked if Depp could be part of the sixth film in the franchise, Disney Studios Motion Picture Production President Sean Bailey replied that the studio was “non-committal at this stage” in a recent interview with the New York Times.
Jack Sparrow: The actor, 59, was kicked out of the franchise by the company in 2018 because they wanted to bring ‘new energy’ to the much-loved films
Iconic: Depp last played the swashbuckling character in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017
The jury ruled in favor of Depp on all three of his claims regarding specific statements in the 2018 article.
After a six-week trial last year, Heard was found to have defamed her ex-husband and she was ordered to pay him more than $8million in damages – although they later agreed to a million dollars in order to end their legal battle. .
In 2018, a Disney producer claimed Depp wouldn’t be asked back, saying he wanted to bring “new energy” to the much-loved films.
New ideas to bring the franchise to life, including a female-led Pirates of the Caribbean starring Margot Robbie.
However, in an interview with Vanity Fair last year, the Oscar nominee revealed that the highly anticipated film won’t be happening.
“We had an idea and we had been developing it for a while, a long time ago, to have more of a female-led story – not totally female-led, but just a different type of story – which, in our opinion would have been really cool, but I guess they don’t want to do it,” she said of Disney.
It’s been a good few weeks for Depp, who received a seven-minute standing ovation at the premiere of his comeback film Jeanne du Barry during the Cannes Film Festival last month.
The acclaimed actor – who plays King Louis XV in the period drama – wept as he enjoyed the moment with director and co-star Maïwenn by his side.
Might be tough: The Edward Scissorhands star previously said he won’t be working with Disney again after being cut from the sixth Pirates movie; Pictured 2023
Previous legal woes: His legal team claimed Depp lost $22million in wages after his ex-wife Amber Heard published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 which did not identify Depp, but clearly called him a domestic abuser; Photographed with Heard in 2016
The film is Depp’s first project since being blackballed by Hollywood in the years following the Heard abuse allegations in 2016.
The 76th Film Festival also marked Depp’s first red carpet appearance since his court victory.
The Edward Scissorhands star was greeted with applause and supported by a sea of adoring fans upon his arrival.
Depp couldn’t hide his joy at being back in the Hollywood fold, having been pulled from several projects during the trial, including the Fantastic Beasts film franchise.
