Johnny Depp Returning to ‘Pirates’ Franchise After Successful Case: Ex-Disney Exec
Johnny Depp might triumphantly return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise after winning the defamation case against Amber Heard.
A former Disney executive recently gave hope to fans who want Depp to be back as Captain Jack Sparrow.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the former executive - who asked not to be named in the article - shared his thoughts about the actor's potential return. They added that he could be asked to come back years after cutting him off.
"I absolutely believe post-verdict that Pirates is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Capt. Jack back on board. There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture," the former executive explained.
The statement from the former staff added that the current success of Tom Cruise's franchise, "Top Gun: Maverick," is a huge sign that producers have a big appetite to bring back the biggest franchises in Hollywood.
For what it's worth, the first movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," gained $305 million in lifetime gross since its debut in July 2003.
The second film, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" indeed became the highest-grossing "Pirates" film with $423 million in sales. Meanwhile, his third film "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" earned $309 million.
The remaining two installments led the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise to secure 13th place in the highest-grossing film franchises - only a few million away from surpassing "Transformers," "Batman," and "Jurassic Park."
Johnny Depp Will Be Approached Again - With Caution
After proving his innocence through the defamation case, the actor is expected to receive several offers in the next few months or years.
However, an expert noted that the approach would come with caution.
CEO of Newsroom Public Relations Howard Breuer said that Hollywood would still be cautious due to some people who still think Amber Heard was telling the truth.
Still, the Atlanta-based Strategic Vision PR Group CEO offered a more positive remark, saying that Depp would regain what he lost.
"I think he will return to Hollywood stardom. He won in the court of public opinion. I think now we're going to see that Hollywood does not see him as lethal, as it did a few years ago," Johnson said. "I think Hollywood will see him as someone bankable."
