'Pirates of the Caribbean' producer says there aren't any plans for Johnny Depp to return to the franchise: 'Not at this point'
- "Pirates of the Caribbean" producer Jerry Bruckheimer said Johnny Depp isn't slated to return to the franchise.
- Bruckheimer told The Sunday Times that there are no plans "at this point."
"Pirates of the Caribbean" producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that there are currently no plans for Johnny Depp to return to the franchise, amid Depp's ongoing defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard.
While promoting his new film "Top Gun: Maverick," Bruckheimer commented on the status of the beloved Disney franchise and Depp's future role in it to The Sunday Times.
"We're talking to Margot Robbie. We are developing two 'Pirates' scripts — one with her, one without," Bruckheimer said.
Bruckheimer said that "at this point," Depp is not slated to return to the franchise.
"The future is yet to be decided," he told The Sunday Times.
Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard in March 2019 after she wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post about domestic abuse in December 2018. While Heard did not explicitly name Depp in the essay, Depp's lawyers have said it is "plainly" about him and that her allegations have "devastated" his career, as Insider previously reported.
Depp later alleged that Heard had abused him, which Heard has denied. In August 2020, Heard filed a counterclaim against him, and is countersuing for $100 million.
Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow in five "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. He testified in April that he learned of his firing from the franchise several days after Heard's op-ed was published, Variety reported. Depp's talent manager testified in May that Depp was to receive $22.5 million for the sixth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.
Depp testified that he had plans to give his iconic character in the franchise, Captain Jack Sparrow, a "proper goodbye" before he was removed, Insider previously reported.
"A franchise can last only so long. And there's a way to end a franchise like that," Depp said in court in April. "And I thought the characters should have a way out, to end the franchise on a very good note. And I planned on continuing until it was time to stop."