Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is reportedly set to return to Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise after the entertainment giant offered Depp a whopping $301 million to return the role.
Depp was let go from the franchise in 2018 after starring in five movies, making the film’s box office successes and some of the most profitable movies of all time. A jury recently found that Amber Heard defamed Depp in an op-ed about domestic violence, published by The Washington Post in 2018. It was alleged that Depp was let go from “Pirates of the Caribbean” in part because of the claims made in that op-ed.
An insider told the Australian outlet Poptopic that Disney is “very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp. 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.”
“I know corporate sent him a gift basket with a very heartfelt letter, but I’m unsure how it was received,” the source alleged. “But 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.”
According to Poptopic’s insider, the company is “prepping a deal for USD$301 million deal that will include a sizable donation to a charity of Depp’s choice. 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.”
During the defamation trial, Depp and his legal team repeatedly emphasized to the court that the actor filed the suit to clear his name, not necessarily for the money. The verdict found Heard culpable of defaming Depp by way of her damning Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence.
Following his legal victory, Depp said in a statement, “Six years later, the jury gave me my life back … I am truly humbled.”
“False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me,” he added. “It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.”
During the defamation trial, Depp said on the stand that he would not return to “Pirates” for $300 million.
Disney’s reported offer is above that claim.
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