Johnny Depp, the actor who brought the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow to life in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has confirmed that he won't be returning to the role.
This decision comes after Disney distanced itself from Depp during his trial with ex-wife Amber Heard.
For almost two decades, Depp's portrayal of the comedic captain was the heart of the franchise, and Disney was even planning a sixth film around his character.
However, following accusations of domestic violence against Depp, Disney chose to scrap the film, a move that Depp perceived as abandonment.
Disney's Attempt at Reconciliation
After Depp was found innocent, Disney executives reportedly sent him a letter of apology and an offer to return to his iconic role.
However, Depp remained silent, indicating his disinterest in rekindling his relationship with Disney.
A source close to Disney shared, "I know corporate sent him a gift basket with a very heartfelt letter, but I'm unsure how it was received."
Despite this, the studio remains hopeful that Depp might forgive them and return to his iconic character.
Depp's Firm Stance
Despite rumors and speculation, Depp made it clear that he has no intention of working with Disney again, regardless of the compensation offered.
Even during his testimony, Depp stated that he wouldn't work with Disney again, even if they offered him "$300 million and one million alpacas."
This statement contradicted Disney executives' claims that Depp was "noncommittal" about returning to the franchise.
President of Production, Sean Bailey stated, "We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say." However, when asked about Depp's return, Bailey admitted that Depp was "noncommittal at this point."
The Final Word
Depp's team stepped in to clarify that the actor had no interest in returning to work with Disney.
As a result, regardless of what Disney proposed, Depp's answer would always be a resounding "no." This decision marks the end of Depp's journey with the 'Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, leaving fans and Disney to navigate the future of the series without its iconic captain.