Johnny Depp would earn $22.5 million for the sixth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie

AFP

Johnny Depp would earn $22.5 million for the sixth film in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, but after his ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic violence, Disney scrapped the project, informed on Monday (2) the agent of the actor.

Jack Whigham, who gave video testimony to a court outside Washington where a trial involving the ex-spouses has been taking place for three weeks, said Amber’s Washington Post column was “catastrophic” for Depp’s Hollywood career.

“After the article, it was impossible to get him a studio film,” Whigham told the seven-person jury in the Virginia courthouse. Depp’s agent since 2016, he said a deal had been struck with Disney for the actor to return to play Jack Sparrow in the sixth film in the franchise. “We closed at US$ 22.5 million (R$ 1.1 billion).”

Disney, however, decided to go “in a different direction” after Amber’s Post article was published in December 2018, Whigham reported.

Depp sued Amber for defamation for the column she wrote for the Post, in which she described herself as “a public figure who represents domestic violence”.

Questioned by Amber’s lawyers, Whigham said the deal with Disney over Depp’s compensation for a new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie was verbal: “There was an understanding of what the deal would be.”

Travis McGivern, a member of Depp’s security team, also testified on Monday. He said he witnessed an argument between the couple at his Los Angeles penthouse during which Amber punched Depp in the face, threw a can of booze and spat on the actor.

The bodyguard said he escorted Depp, “for your safety.” “It was time to do my job and get him out of there.”