Disney blocked Johnny Depp from making a returning cameo appearance to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise according to a recent report.
The studio had distanced itself from the 57-year-old actor even before his ‘wife beater’ libel trial in the UK, despite never formally severing ties according to The Hollywood Reporter.
THR reveals Disney blocked Depp’s return. Citing producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s desire to include Depp in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie, even if just in a cameo role to hand over the reins of the franchise to Robbie, the report says “Disney balked,” refusing to entertain the idea due to the reputation risk it would pose for the family-friendly media giant. Take a look at the relevant paragraph below:
The paragraph in question reads:
Disney had already backed away from a Pirates future with Depp well before the U.K. trial, even if it never formally severed ties. Bruckheimer, who has been one of Depp’s biggest champions and once suggested the finger injury happened because “he got it caught in a car door,” was hoping to at least bring the Captain Jack Sparrow character back briefly in the next outing — said to be a female-centric incarnation fronted by Margot Robbie. Disney balked.
There have already been multiple petitions signed by more than a million fans online, that have demanded Depp be reinstated in his role as Sparrow.
Meanwhile, in the same article it was reported that Depp had tried to keep his wife Heard from starring in the 2018 action film Aquaman, with the actor allegedly attempting to have her replaced from the movie.