Can Johnny Depp Return to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' If He Wins Amber Heard Lawsuit?

The mega-producer who helped Tom Cruise, Will Smith, and Johnny Depp become stars has left the door open for Depp to return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which he also produces.

In 2020, it was claimed that Disney was working on a new female-led Pirates of the Caribbean film, with Margot Robbie attached to the star.

Pirates of the Caribbean Speaks Out

While promoting his recent film, Top Gun: Maverick, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that two Pirates scripts are presently being written: "one with [Robbie], one without. Not at this moment." This is according to Bruckheimer when he was asked if Depp, who has played pirate captain Jack Sparrow since the franchise's inception, will return for the sixth installment. The future is still up in the air.

Depp is presently facing a $50 million defamation lawsuit from his ex-wife Amber Heard, who claimed in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post that he assaulted her. The actor was less vague about his return to the Pirates franchise during cross-examination at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia after Disney formally pulled him from a planned reboot days after Heard's op-ed was published.

However, during cross-examination, Depp subsequently told the court that before being dropped by Disney, he intended to give Jack Sparrow a dignified send-off with a sixth picture, according to Independent. Following their 2017 divorce, charges of violence against Heard arose, putting Depp's role in the Pirates films in jeopardy. Since then, the actor has struggled to clear his name, with devoted fans asking that Disney reinstall him as Captain Jack Sparrow.

In the present legal proceedings, Depp has made his sentiments of rage and betrayal over Disney's treatment of him quite obvious. His similarly devoted supporters have helped bring the current Change.Org petition seeking his reinstatement to over 1 million signatures.

It comes as Depp's talent manager Jack Whigham testified in court that Disney movie chief Sean Bailey and producer Jerry Bruckheimer had orally agreed to pay the actor a $22.5 million fee for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 in 2016. This was not a written contract, according to the court.

Depp is thought to have made about $300 million on his Pirates franchise frees and earnings share. He also maintains a tight relationship with Bruckheimer, who holds great weight in Hollywood, as per Express.

Johnny Depp's Lawyer Presses Amber Heard

Meanwhile, jurors in Johnny Depp's libel trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, saw images of her with red markings and swelling on her face during their final argument before their divorce on Monday and learned about her testimony regarding her skill at hiding bruises with makeup.

Heard wrapped up her direct evidence in a Virginia courtroom on the third day, which focused on the latter months of her marriage to Depp. Later in the afternoon, his attorneys began cross-examining him. The trial is now in its fifth week, and jurors have seen many images of Heard that purport to record the violence she claims she endured throughout her relationship with Depp.

The trial is now in its fifth week, and jurors have seen many images of Heard that purport to record the violence she claims she endured throughout her relationship with Johnny Depp. Amber Heard filed for divorce two days after the altercation in May of 2016. After a legal hearing a few days later, she won a temporary restraining order and was extensively photographed leaving the courthouse with a noticeable red mark on her right cheek.

Depp argues that he never struck Heard and that she is fabricating charges of abuse. Earlier in the trial, jurors heard from police officers who responded to emergency calls during the last battle and stated that Heard's face was red from sobbing but that no obvious bruises were visible. Witnesses also stated that they did not notice any injuries on Heard's face in the days after the incident, CBS News reported.