Many things come to mind when people think of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Of course, Hans Zimmer’s exceptional musical scoring is one of the most iconic in movie history.
It may also be the charm of headliners Kiera Knightley and Orlando Bloom, who manage to be the most good-looking pirates in visual fiction. But there’s always one character that comes to mind when it comes to the Pirates franchise, and that’s Johnny Depp’s “Jack Sparrow.”
Jack Sparrow is undoubtedly one of the most popular characters in movie history. Every Halloween, there are bound to be a few Jack Sparrows who dress up and roam around their respective turfs. This is a character that no other actor could have played as well. It was such a big surprise when Disney decided to drop Johnny Depp from the Pirates franchise following Amber Heard’s op-ed that was published in The Washington Post.
A Controversial Trial
Currently, Heard and Depp are locked in a controversial defamation trial. Depp claims that Heard’s op-ed is slanderous, and it cost him “everything” concerning his career. The Sleepy Hollow actor experienced a significant backlash due to Heard’s op-ed and lost out on various starring roles, including roles within the Pirates and Harry Potter franchises.
Depp has consistently denied the claims made by Heard in her op-ed and is adamant about having never struck her or any other woman in his life.
When asked about his reaction to first reading the op-ed, this is what he had to say:
“Shock… Because I, at that point, it had been a good, solid, two or so years of the accusations, of the allegations, planted firmly on my back. Something I had to carry with me and I just couldn’t believe it was continuing in such a way.”
Depp also opened up about the emotional toll that the accusations had taken on him over the years.
“It was clear that the more bad press, the more hit pieces that came out on me, the more of these stories of Ms. Heard and her righteous chase against me … it wasn’t stopping. It’s difficult to, once you’ve chewed on it for a couple of years, it becomes difficult to swallow anymore, as it was completely untrue.”
Feeling Hurt and Betrayed
More than just the shock that he felt at Heard’s op-ed, Depp also talked about the pain he felt from being dropped by Disney from the Pirates franchise that he helped build from the ground up.
“Captain Jack Sparrow was a character I built from the ground up and was something that I, of course, put a lot of [myself] into the character and also having worked on these films with these people and added much of myself, much of my own re-writing of the dialogue and scenes and jokes.”
Many of Depp’s fans got their first introduction to his acting talents through the Jack Sparrow character. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that he felt betrayed by Disney’s decision to take Heard’s words over his in this public battle.
What’s your favorite Johnny Depp performance throughout his career? Is he right to feel betrayed by what Disney did to him?
Sources:
Her personality is all over her face, the nut within is dark and it shows.
He should not have been dropped. He was a great Jack Sparrow.
If Disney never believed him for all these years he worked with them then there’s a problem somewhere,
Sometimes situations comes to destroy us but we need the help of those around us to stand, but when those who was supposed to be there for us fail us we do feel betrayed.
Yes Depp is right to feel betrayed but he should stand tall, cause there’s a calm in every storm of life.
I love you Depp and I can’t get tired of watching your movie, my captain jack Sparrow
Some of his earlier works were some of his most iconic … Jack Sparrow is fantastic but Benny and Joon and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape … And Edward Scissorhands … Are outstanding ..
His abilities to become a character have always been among some of the best in Hollywood .. Fear and Loathing for example …
Johnny Depp getting dropped for personal life over professional ability is some of the worst about the threat cancel culture has become and it really needs to stop .
Just my opinion
Disney presumed Johnny guilty until proven innocent, fired him. What makes matters worse is they continue to sell t-shirts keychains with Johnny’s face on them making money off him. Disney thinks they can hire a new actor to play a character Johnny built. They are dead ass wrong. I won’t go see pirates of the Caribbean 6 and I hope Johnny’s fans boycott it to. Not one of his ex’s step forward to support Amber’s claim. Her lies are being exploded, Hollywood needs to let her go. Aquaman will flop. Johnny deserves a public apology from everyone that turned their backs on him. When I first heard Amber’s story I was shocked, upset, angry I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I thought she was telling the truth. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Certainly Amber wasn’t foolish enough to broadcast DV and sexual abuse to the world. She’s a liar and she’s the abuser. She’s wicked, twisted, sick individual. I don’t like her, not now not ever.
I love you Johnny
Pirates of the Caribbean will never be the same without jack sparrow, I personally feel he brings the whole franchise to life and hadn’t it been for him I doubt I would have had much interest in the movie.
Disney should not have dropped Johnny Depp, he is Captain Jack sparrow!!!
Johnny Depp IS Pirates of the Caribbean! Disney has just managed to “ruin” one of the BEST movies ever for children and adults! Taking the LEAD character out of a movie that centers around him…………….honestly it’s a “NO BRAINER” what that will do! Johnny Depp is an incredible actor and even watching him thru the trials is STILL unable to stop watching him!!!! I think disney made a terrible mistake!