Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts star Johnny Depp appears to be on the verge of a comeback. That comes after several years of making headlines following a messy, acrimonious divorce from Aquaman star Amber Heard.
Depp has been persona non grata in Hollywood since 2020 when he lost a libel case against The Sun after being branded a "wife beater." He'd later pick up a victory in his defamation case against Heard and has since focused on European cinema.
Next up for him is Jeanne Du Barry and it appears the actor is keen to continue making movies like that instead of taking centre stage in your typical blockbusters.
"By and large, for the majority of the years I’ve been wandering around aimlessly talking to people, they really want the same thing," Depp says. "They don’t want to be fed dreck. They’re happy when they experience something new or different."
"So that’s why I’ve always felt, as an actor, it’s your responsibility. When you come out of the gate each time...you’re putting as much at stake as anybody."
No longer forced to place nice with Hollywood executives, Depp has no qualms about making his feelings known when it comes to studio bosses.
"They’re disposable and they realise it," he states. "Glorified accountants who have the ability to press the green light and make studio films...but they press the green light, they spent s***loads of money."
"Budgets are ridiculous on these films...some romantic comedy with two very popular people. People - the real people - they’re sick of it."
It's hard to say whether Depp considers superhero movies to be among the "dreck" he refers to here, though that last comment does sound like a shot at Anyone But You starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney (which garnered strong reviews and performed well at the box office).
Whether Depp will get a chance to make a mainstream comeback remains to be seen...or whether he even wants to, for that matter. There have been rumblings about the actor returning to Pirates of the Caribbean, though Disney would almost certainly face criticism for bringing him back as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Still, many seem ready to see Depp make a return and would welcome him becoming a fixture in theaters again. His box office drawing power was on the decline before 2020, but half a decade removed, that may well have changed.
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