Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently confirmed that Johnny Depp is not in the plans for future installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Bruckheimer confirmed Depp was out while speaking to The Times in the UK to promote the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick film.
First Bruckheimer confirmed he is indeed developing a new Pirates film and has two scripts in development. Not only does he have two scripts in development, but he’s also in talks with Margot Robbie to star in one of them.
When asked if he was working on a sequel with a female lead, Bruckheimer stated, “Yes. We’re talking to Margot Robbie. We are developing two Pirates scripts — one with her, one without.”
The Times then asked, “Will Depp be back?” Bruckheimer responded, “Not at this point.” However, he didn’t completely shut the door saying, “The future is yet to be decided.”
It was reported Depp was not in the picture for future Pirates film all the way back in 2018 when then Disney production chief Sean Bailey made it clear to The Hollywood Reporter (THR) that Depp was no longer involved.
At the time Bailey said, “We want to bring in a new energy and vitality. I love the [Pirates] movies, but part of the reason Paul and Rhett are so interesting is that we want to give it a kick in the pants. And that’s what I’ve tasked them with.”
The confirmation came days after Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post where she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse. Heard is currently being sued by Depp for defamation over the op-ed.
As for Robbie’s involvement, THR indicated she would be headlining a “female-fronted” film with Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson penning the script. At the time, they reported the film would be a “wholly original story with new characters under the Pirates moniker.”
Robbie would discuss the film with Collider in November 2020 saying, “A lot of girl power. It’s too early to talk about it but I appreciate that you’re psyched on the combo. I love Christina obviously. I’m not a producer on Pirates, so I’ll sit back and kind of wait for the process the way you’re allowed to do as an actor, which is nice. I don’t have to stress about it just yet. We’re really, really excited at the prospect of kind of adding a very key female element to that world.”
By December 2020 there was a rumor that Robbie wants her character to be LGBT. The Express reported, “According to a Hollywood insider, the star has apparently been looking for ways to spice up her character a little bit more, and bring her into the 21st century – despite living in the golden era of piracy.”
The source told them, “Margot wants her character in PotC film to be LGBT.”
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Bruckheimer’s claim about Depp being out shouldn’t be that big of a surprise. Depp testified in court about his possible return to his character Jack Sparrow for a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Amber Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn asked, “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?”
Depp replied, “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”
What do you make of Bruckheimer confirming Depp is out of the Pirates franchise and they are moving forward with Robbie?