Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean cameo return ‘blocked by Disney’

Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean run looks like it has come to a definitive end.

Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow in five films across 14 years. The franchise has accumulated box office takings of over $4.5bn making it the twelfth biggest of all time.

However, Disney is said to have put a stop to the actor’s planned cameo in the next instalment.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that producer Jerry Bruckheimer planned to bring Sparrow back in some capacity for the sequel, but that Disney “balked” at the idea.

It’s unclear whether the studio, who has never formerly cut ties with the actor, ever had plans to bring Depp back as Sparrow.

However, in 2018, Stuart Beattie, the original film’s screenwriter, seemed to confirm Depp’s time as the character was over, stating: “I think he's had a great run."

These reports come after Depp resigned from the Fantastic Beasts franchise at the request of Warner Bros after losing a libel case against The Sun over a 2018 article that called him a “wife beater”.

His recasting in the third film came after the actor was denied permission to appeal against the High Court’s ruling, which concluded that he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard. He was, however, given permission to apply directly to the Court of Appeal, which he has now done. The Court of Appeal has yet to issue a decision on the application.

Mads Mikkelsen will now play the role of Grindelwald in the Harry Potter spin-off.

Depp, 57, has always denied being violent towards Heard, whose role in Aquaman 2 has since come under fire from Depp’s supporters .

Addressing a petition, signed by more than 1.7m people, Heard told Entertainment Weekly: “Paid rumours and paid campaigns on social media don’t dictate [casting decisions] because they have no basis in reality.”

Earlier this month, it was alleged that Depp had previously tried to get Amber Heard replaced on the film after their relationship ended.

The Independent has contacted Depp and Disney for comment.

Pirates of the Caribbean is said to be returning with a new film starring Margot Robbie in the lead role.

This article was updated on January 7, 2021, to add that Depp was given permission to apply directly to the Court of Appeal regarding the libel trial, which he has done.