Back in 2018, UK publisher The Sun described Johnny Depp — known best for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean — as a "wife-beater" in one of their prints. It did so in reference to accusations Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard threw at him during their infamous divorce back in 2015-2017. Depp decided to retaliate against this by suing The Sun, and his libel case begins this week.
Amidst all of this, Disney has announced that it has plans to create a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie starring Margot Robbie. The film will feature an all-female main cast and be completely separate from the previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean reboot helmed by the series original writer, Ted Elliott.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and its two sequels, would like to reference Johnny Depp and Sparrow in the upcoming Margot Robbie spin-off. But Disney is apparently hesitating in allowing it because of Depp's past being in the spotlight again. It seems the company will only give the green light if Depp's press dies down a bit.
It's worth noting that Amber Heard is on tape admitting that she's the one who abused Johnny Depp. Overall, the situation is somewhat similar to that of James Gunn's when he was under fire for some questionable tweets he made in the past. Disney felt it needed to distance itself from Gunn because of the controversy surrounding him. Hopefully, Depp will get the chance to move on the same way Gunn was allowed to.
Source: Hollywood Reporter