Reps for Johnny Depp have denied rumors that the actor is in talks with Walt Disney Pictures to return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. While Depp was the major lead for the first five movies, playing Captain Jack Sparrow, he was not invited back for a sixth installment. That is, unless you believed a “source” who told Poptopic that the 59-year-old recently began talks for a “$301 million deal” for a new Pirates film.
- The story seems to have cropped up out of nowhere. Poptopic claimed that a “source” informed them that Depp and Disney had been in discussions over a “$300 million deal” since he won his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard late last month. The “source” also claimed that Disney was desperate to get back on good terms with Depp for some reason and that execs had reached out to him hoping to patch things up.
- Disney was reportedly willing to do anything to get Depp back. Lest we forget, Depp claimed during his defamation trial that he would never return to the franchise even if he was offered $300 million. That’s why, according to the source, Disney was prepared to shell out $301 million, plus offer a sizeable donation to a charity of his choice. All for one guy who was a known nightmare on set, turned up hours late, and never knew his lines. How generous!
- The fake news didn’t end there. Not only did the “source” claim that Disney is desperate to get Johnny Depp back in Pirates of the Caribbean and is willing to pay $301 million for the pleasure (completely and utterly unheard of for any project and any actor), but that they also had other work in mind for him. “The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl,” the source claimed. “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.”
- Depp’s reps have since called out the story for what it is: completely and utterly fake. “This is made up,” a representative for the actor told NBC News (via E! News). Well, that puts that to rest.
