A fan petition give Johnny Depp one of his old roles back has become active, but it's not the one you were expecting.
A petition on Change.org is advocating for Disney to give Depp back the part of Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films. "Disney is rebooting Dead Men Tell No Tales because of its box office but don't they know that without Johnny Depp or Jack Sparrow they will sink, they will never be able to reach that horizon they are looking for," creator Riza Siddiqui wrote two years ago, when she started the petition. The petition currently has close to 290,000 signatories
Disney is rebooting the franchise with a new female-led Pirates of the Caribbean film, which will star Birds of Prey's Margot Robbie and be written by the DC film's scribe, Christina Hodson. Plot details are scarce, but the movie will reportedly launch a new franchise based on the Disney theme park ride. The House of Mouse also has another Pirates film in the works from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and franchise vet Ted Elliott.
The petition's resurfacing comes after Depp lost his Fantastic Beasts role of Gellert Grindelwald. Doctor Strange's Mads Mikkelsen is in talks to take over from Depp, who appeared in both Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Depp left the film last week after Warner Bros. asked him to step down from the role. "In light of recent events, I would like to make the following short statement," Depp wrote on Instagram. "Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty. I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days. Secondly, I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request. Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgment of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time. Thank you for reading."
Depp has been dealing with several lawsuits over the last two years. He lost his libel trial against the Rupert Murdoch-owned British newspaper, The Sun, after it published claims by his ex-wife Amber Heard that he was physically abusive towards her during their short marriage. A separate libel trial is set to begin later this year. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over a piece she wrote in The Washington Post, where she discusses her allegations of abuse against Depp. It is unclear if the British ruling will have any impact on the American case.
Source: Change via Cinemablend