There are certain movie roles that are synonymous with the actor that plays them, as if no one else could have done a better job. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool are some stellar examples. However, another such role that springs to mind is beloved actor Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He perfectly embodied the flamboyance of the eccentric yet endearing swashbuckling pirate. However, he was fired from the role by Disney in light of the infamous Depp vs. Heard trial.
Disney distancing from Depp to maintain “family-friendly” image
While Depp played a pivotal role in the franchise’s success, Disney had been straying away from the controversies surrounding Depp following the trial in order to uphold their “family-friendly” image. However, in an interview with ET, Pirates producer, Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that there is still a chance for Depp to appear and possibly reprise the role in future installments if he wants to. In the interview, Bruckheimer said that Depp is a great actor and a good friend. If it were up to him, Depp could definitely reprise the role. He also said that he has spoken about it to the actor, but whether Depp will accept remains to be seen.
Pirates of the Caribbean success
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies were inspired by the theme park attraction of the same name at the Disneyland Theme parks. The series was widely successful, bringing in around $4.5 billion in box office over a 5-part franchise. Disney is expected to be carrying on with the franchise with a sixth installment, rumored to be a reboot for the franchise, but so far details about it are being kept under wraps.
Depp has been instrumental in the series’ success, having been the primary face on the poster ever since 2003’s Curse of the Black Pearl. While famous names like Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom are also featured in the movies in main roles, it is Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow that has burrowed a special place in the hearts of the franchise’s fans.
Will Johnny Depp return to Pirates in a lead role?
While it is likely that Depp could return for an appearance in the upcoming reboot, it is highly unlikely that it is going to be for the lead role. Depp has been stepping away from the front of the camera and moving towards the role of a director. Depp himself has gone on record in the infamous trial saying that “nothing on this Earth” would bring him back to the Pirates franchise. It was this reluctance to step back into the role that possibly prompted Disney to go for a reboot. All this leads to a conclusion that it is unlikely to see Depp as Jack Sparrow once again, however, there is still a chance that the actor could make a brief appearance in a pleasant surprise for the fans.
As it stands, reports suggest that Disney wants Austin Butler to play a pivotal role in the reboot. Butler has been gaining attention thanks to his critically acclaimed performances in Dune Part Two and Elvis.