Johnny Depp Dropped From ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as Disney Plans Reboot for Franchise

www.theepochtimes.com ^ | October 29, 2018 Updated: October 29, 2018 | By Mimi Nguyen Ly

[Red Badger]

Johnny Depp has been dropped from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” according to the film franchise’s original scriptwriter Stuart Beattie.

Disney Studios plans to reboot the billion-dollar franchise and will be axing Depp, Beattie told DailyMail TV at a recent red carpet event in Hollywood.

The 55-year-old Depp had played Captain Jack Sparrow—a major role in the five “Pirates” movies over the past 15 years.

“I think he’s had a great run. Obviously, he’s made that character his own and it’s become the character he’s most famous for now,” Beattie said.

“And kids all over the world love him as that character so I think it’s been great for him, it’s been great for us, so I’m just very, very happy about it.”

Beattie called Depp’s rise to stardom and the films’ successes a “miracle.”

“Before Jack Sparrow came along, [Depp] was considered this kind of quirky, independent actor that made these really cool little Tim Burton films, but he was by no means a movie star and a lot of people thought we were crazy for casting him at the time,” Beattie told DailyMail TV.

“Because he wasn’t a proven commodity; you know, a big movie star. And we were making a big movie and we were putting this quirky, independent actor in the middle of it and people thought we were crazy. The fact that it worked is a miracle,” he added.

“Something just clicked and it was magic and connected with audiences. I’m proud to be a part of it,” Beattie said.

The “Pirates” series debuted in 2003 with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” The series has since grossed $4.5 billion worldwide, making it the 12th highest grossing film series of all time.

The most recent “Pirates” release was “Dead Men Tell No Tales” in 2017. It was the worst performing of the five.

“I think Jack Sparrow will be his legacy. It’s the only character he’s played five times, it’s the character he dresses up in to visit children in hospitals, it’s what he’ll be remembered for,” Beattie said. Reboot

In plans for the “Pirates” reboot, Disney has met with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, according to Deadline.

The two writers are best known for their work on the “Deadpool” blockbusters released in 2016 and 2018. Beattie confirmed with Daily Mail TV that Reese and Wernick are working on new “Pirates” script drafts.

Depp will appear next as Gellert Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the second film in the “Fantastic Beasts” series, which is the prequel to the “Harry Potter” series.

The actor has experienced a backlash from fans since May 2016, when then-wife Amber Heard filed for divorce and requested a restraining order against Depp on grounds of domestic violence.

In May this year, Depp’s former bodyguards filed a lawsuit claiming unpaid wages and poor working conditions. In July, Depp was sued by a film crew member whom he allegedly punched twice on a set of a movie about the killing of rapper Notorious BIG.

[max americana]

I watched only part 2 reluctantly. Never saw 3 or 4, but large chunks of 1 haha

[SaveFerris]

;)

[golux]

One thing that always amazes me is how people will enjoy movies or whatever, then turn on the actors who gave them so much pleasure. "Drunkard!" "Monster..."

Sure, I wouldn't like to see Barbra in concert because I'm not into the politics (this is why I stopped spending a fortune for CSNY tickets when they came around,) but I agree with you that we seem to be awfully cruel when it comes to entertainers.

Michael Jackson is an example. What a sad fellow, and so lonely. Eaten alive in the end.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

There are at least two interesting schizoid Freepers, by the way, who say they are very powerful in show-business. Some even have a number of FR handles to their singular identities, (the two of whom I speak are at least four handles,)and they invariably agree with themselves on these and other issues.

I wonder what they have to say with us and with themselves on this issue? They all seem to "know everyone."

[DiogenesLamp]

The movies became increasingly worse. In the original, Jack Sparrow was a roguish fellow that was brave and cunning while executing a master plan to outsmart all of his adversaries. All the subsequent movies had him as a drunken bumbling fool stumbling from one mess to the next and only getting by through outlandish luck.

The plots sucked.

It it is to be saved at all, the franchise needs a reboot. What they have been doing up till now hasn't been working.

[DiogenesLamp]

The original Pirates of the Caribbean was a very entertaining movie, and Johnny Depp was pitch perfect as Captain Jack Sparrow. The subsequent movies were not very good.

Whatever magic they had in the first simply didn't translate into any of the others.

[DiogenesLamp]

I think I know who is the replacement. Met the actor a few weeks back and I’m at Disney almost every 2 weeks. Some lefty fag clown there pointed to him once and said he’s the replacement.

I always enjoy reading your messages. You do not mince words. :)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Badger. Shiver me timbers! Never have seen any of the five movies, and generally avoid the latter day Disney empire.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I just watched a show on ReelZ about him, I think the show is called Broke and Famous. It was very interesting to see just how much money he blows in a month, for instance, he spends 30k a month on wine.

[Red Badger]

In the original, Jack Sparrow was a roguish fellow that was brave and cunning while executing a master plan to outsmart all of his adversaries.

Brave and cunning? The character Jack Sparrow, even in the first movie, was basically a coward and an opportunist................

[Trump_the_Evil_Left]

I couldn’t stand his ridiculous portrayal of the character. It was some kind of strange Keith Richards - Mick Jaggar homage that never worked for me

[Red Badger]

Keith Richards was in one of the movies!...............

[Trump_the_Evil_Left]

I know, supposedly bc Depp had previously mentioned him as inspiration for the portrayal of Jack Sparrow.

[RedMonqey]

It's a comment on Depp's lack of hygiene that his teetrh look as bad as the late Stephen Hawkin's



At least the poor Doctor had a terrible disease and the British Heath service to blame for the sad state of his mouth.

Depp's excuse?

He's a bum.

[ontap]

YADA!YADA!YADAYADAYADA! He’s too old.....and he want’s to much money!!!!

[DiogenesLamp]

Brave and cunning? The character Jack Sparrow, even in the first movie, was basically a coward and an opportunist................

Let's see. Going up to the British Soldiers guarding the ship and sneaking on board. Jumping into the water to save Elizabeth. Escaping while chained by swinging on the ropes of the crane, than running while being fired upon. Getting into a sword fight with Will Turner.

Sneaking onto the Ship by walking underwater in an upside down boat. Conning the British to make the other ship ready, and swiping it while they were occupied on the larger ship. Fouling the steering ropes on the larger ship.

Sneaking into the pirate den of treasure. Stealing a coin to bring the curse down upon himself without anyone knowing about it until much later. Bargaining with the identity of the man the pirates needed in an effort to get back into control of the situation.

Convincing the British to follow his plan for destroying the Pirates. Finally revealing himself to actually be a "good guy" rather than the opportunist everyone thought he was, by Attacking Captain Barbosa when he could have gone along with the plan, revealing his previous trick that made himself unkillable, firing his shot saved throughout the movie at precisely the right time to enact his revenge.

Those are just a few of the examples I remember in which he was cunning or brave.

[ssaftler]

Why are they rebooting these movies?

It's easier and probably more lucrative to rehash old story lines with new characters and flashier new gizzeroos to keep the kiddies coming back.

Besides, it's Disney, who haven't had an original idea since Walt died. Well, actually, most of Hollywood hasn't had an original idea in the past 40 years.

[ontap]

There’s just so many times you can make the same damn movie!!!

[DiogenesLamp]

There’s just so many times you can make the same damn movie!!!

The scripts of the subsequent movies were horrible. The novelty of "Jack Sparrow" wasn't sufficient to make up for badly written scripts.

They should have been so lucky as to make the first movie a second time.

[outofsalt]

"...the Dustin Hoffman of his age."

I like both Johnny Depp and Dustin Hoffman but, here is a challenge to you; Watch The Graduate followed by Rainman. I won't say anything more. I'll wait to hear back if you so choose. FReegards.

[alternatives?]

Disney did such a good job on the re-boot of Star Wars.