Captain Jack Sparrow is headed for the horizon as a Disney producer has confirmed Johnny Depp has been dropped from the “Pirates of The Caribbean” series.
After starring in five films over 14 years in the hit Disney franchise, the 55-year-old actor will be stepping aside so that a rebooted movie with “new energy” can be made, Disney’s film production chief, Sean Bailey, confirmed.
“We want to bring in a new energy and vitality,” Disney’s production chief Sean Bailey told The Hollywood Reporter.
Disney is reportedly in “early talks” about a reboot and has met with Deadpool‘s writing duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick about a script.
“I love the [Pirates] movies, but part of the reason Paul and Rhett are so interesting is that we want to give it a kick in the pants. And that’s what I’ve tasked them with,” Bailey explained.
The “Pirates of The Caribbean” series was the 12th biggest franchise in movie history, grossing over $4.5 billion from the first film, “The Curse of the Black Pearl” released in 2003 to Depp’s last appearance as the lead character in 2017’s “Dead Men Tell No Tales” which was the lowest performing of the five films, according to Fox News.
Reports that Depp was being dropped from the series appeared to be confirmed back in October by scriptwriter Stuart Beattie who said Depp’s time on the franchise was “a great run.”
“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 told DailyMailTV at a red carpet event in Hollywood.
“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,” he added. “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 characterized Depp as a “quirky” actor who was not a “proven commodity” until he was cast as the iconic pirate captain.
“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.,” he said. “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.”
Beattie noted that “something just clicked” with the finished product, however, ” and it was magic and connected with audiences. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
The news comes a Depp has been battling personal problems for the last few years, with a high-profile divorce from actress Amber Heard and alleged drinking and financial problems. The actor came under fire last year when he suggested “maybe it is time” for an actor to assassinate the president since “it has been a while.”
Meanwhile, angry fans reacted to the news that Depp would no longer be at the helm of the Black Pearl in future Disney “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
Johnny Depp has created one of the most iconic characters ever. Jack Sparrow IS the Pirates franchise, no way a reboot is gonna top what it’s already created.
Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp = success
Pirates of the Caribbean without Johnny Depp = flop
— maría (@jonsmanager) December 20, 2018
RIP Captain Jack Sparrow
— HotNewHipHop (@HotNewHipHop) December 21, 2018
There is no #piratesofthecaribbean without Johnny Depp! @Disney should thank Johnny for his brilliance, he made the PotC a billionaire franchise!Jack Sparrow is a eternal character! Thank you Johnny!
— Jane Vishous (@EveSalander) December 20, 2018
Sorry @Disney you just can’t have #PiratesoftheCaribbean without Johnny Depp. He is Captain Jack Sparrow!
— Michelle L (@fiercemommalion) December 23, 2018
No Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie what is even the point of that? #JohnnyDepp #JackSparrow pic.twitter.com/uBu4B1lsCE
— Simona (@simona_ka) December 23, 2018
??? Disney you’ve made a grave mistake ??? not worth watching without Captain Jack Sparrow#FoxNews https://t.co/j7ZqvAKSX4
— Natasha Gift (@natasha_gift) December 24, 2018
Pirates of the Caribbean is nothing without Captain Jack Sparrow, and the Captain is nothing without Johnny Depp.
No Johnny –> no Jack –> no Pirates.
Simple as that. pic.twitter.com/J7JVQzMFyF
— Babette White ?✨?? (@babewhlte) December 20, 2018
The problem wasn’t Johnny Depp, the problem was the story writing and Disney not willing to grow Jack Sparrow. He was more villainous and more appealing in the first two than any other. After the first two, they just wanted a tinker bell with bad breath. Disney sucks.
— Tony Parks (@tony208parks) December 22, 2018
Pirates without Jack Sparrow #JohnnyDepp will be disaster to watch. Thank you @Disney For ruining it.
— Karthiyen (@karthikiyen) December 24, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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