The drama surrounding the franchise escalated when Johnny Depp was removed from future instalments due to his past legal troubles.
Tarnished career after legal troubles
The actor’s career as a Hollywood A-lister took a hit from his highly-publicized and often ugly legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. After a two-year marriage, and an almost seven-year relationship, courts heard alleged claims and counterclaims from Depp and Heard.
In a 2018 essay with the Washington Post, Heard referenced “sexual violence” and “domestic abuse,” and though Depp’s name was not mentioned, but hinted, he argued that his reputation had been tarnished.
Depp, 59, sued Heard for $50 million, claiming her fabrications of abuse were an attempt to get more money from him in their divorce settlement. One year later, in 2020, Heard countersued for $100 million.
The case garnered worldwide attention for six weeks during spring 2022, and ended with a $10.35 million judgment in favor of Depp. Heard was given $2 million in her countersuit.
A new Pirates of the Caribbean?
Though despite Depp’s subsequent clearance of his name, he made it clear that he would not reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, regardless of any offers, per VT. This decision left fans speculating about who would step into the iconic pirate’s boots.
Surprisingly, the franchise’s creators have set their sights on a female lead.
Initially, Margot Robbie was rumored to take on a leading role in a new Pirates adventure, but that project lost momentum. Now, another name has emerged: Ayo Edebiri.
According to Gaming Bible, the studio is considering her for the role of Anne, a character based on the historical figure Anne Bonny, who was an Irish pirate operating in the Caribbean and one of the few female pirates in recorded history. This potential casting choice has ignited anticipation among fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter, tentatively titled Pirates 6.
Some Depp fans were disappointed, notably, Elon Musk, who openly criticized Disney’s decision. Quoting the news of Ayo’s potential casting, Musk took to social media to write: “Disney Sucks.”
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