Embattled actor Johnny Depp is rumored to be getting paid more than $300 million to return to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” after getting unceremoniously dumped from the franchise in 2018 amid abuse allegations by his ex wife, Amber Heard. A source close to Disney allegedly dropped the bombshell in a new interview with Aussie outlet Poptopic.
“The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow,” the little leaking birdie claimed to the Down Under entertainment website.
The 59-year-old “Donnie Brasco” star had played the swashbuckling buccaneer in five
“Pirates” movies over the last 19 years, before Disney dropped him from the sixth and final installment in the wake of 36-year-old Heard’s 2018 Washington Post op-ed which Depp claimed defamed him as a domestic abuser. This reportedly caused the “Edward Scissorhands” icon to lose out on a $22.5 million payday.
However, following Depp’s highly publicized defamation suit win earlier this month, it appears that the House of Mouse could be willing to reinstate him in the iconic role.
“Disney are very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp,” the source alleged to Poptopic. “They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another ‘Pirates’ film or two.”
Per the E! network, a source connected to actor reportedly told NBC News that “this is made up” — but reps for Depp and Disney have yet to respond to The Post’s request for confirmation.
Meanwhile, the rumored comeback deal, which is allegedly worth a cool $301 million, would reportedly see Depp “return as Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’ and a spin-off Disney+ series about the early life of the Captain of the Black Pearl,” per the source.
“What I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow, so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character,” the source claimed.
The new development comes after an unnamed Disney executive hinted at the “Finding Neverland” actor donning Sparrow’s tricorn hat again following his defamation trial win.
“I absolutely believe post-verdict that ‘Pirates’ is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Capt. Jack back on board,” the source said in an interview with People magazine earlier this month. “There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture,” they added.
Depp was awarded more than $10 million in his defamation case against Heard earlier this month. A jury in Fairfax, Virginia, found Heard liable for defaming Depp. The jury also found Heard was defamed by one of Depp’s lawyers but only awarded her $2 million in damages.