Johnny Depp is probably ready and willing to work with Disney again. “Anything is possible,” an insider close to Depp told PEOPLE.
Disney Studio Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey has announced that the studio is likely ready to shoot the next installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise , starring Depp as his iconic pirate character, Captain Jack Sparrow.
We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the previous films and also includes something new.
Bailey said in an interview with NYT.
Of course, the Disney executive was cautious about Depp’s involvement , saying that “they’re not ready at this point.”
By contrast , Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer only said:
You have to ask [Disney]. I cannot answer that question. I really don’t know. I would love to have him in the movie. He’s a friend, a great actor, and it’s unfortunate that his personal life creeps into everything we do.
Bruckheimer said of Depp’s return.
Disney broke off its relationship with Johnny Depp after the actor became embroiled in a controversial public divorce from his ex-wife Amber Heard. In 2018, British newspaper The Sun published an “anonymous” letter (by Heard) accusing an unnamed mega-star (Deppa) of abuse. Depp sued The Sun for defamation, claiming that the article had affected his reputation and career.
However, Depp lost the lawsuit and Heard was found to have suffered enough abuse. The ruling nearly destroyed Depp’s reputation, at the height of the “Me Too” movement in Hollywood.
In 2022, Depp and Heard had a public trial in Virginia. The ruling ended largely in Depp’s favour. Heard’s final settlement also followed. After the trial, Depp regained his place among Hollywood’s best actors.
So far, communication between Depp and Disney has looked like both parties are trying to convince each other without losing face in the public eye. It remains to be seen whether private discussions will lead to an official announcement that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in the works.