Disney has never been more in trouble as the studio seriously reconsiders the prospect of bringing back disgraced actor Johnny Depp into the mix.

Let’s break up the tornado of fiascoes that Disney has been drowning in since 2019.

MCU’s Avengers: Endgame was followed by a troubling phase that left the fans more distraught than ever. Star Wars never found itself in a more ugly controversy than right now with The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew. Johnny Depp’s booting from the Pirates franchise marked the end of a significant IP for Disney that could’ve covered the losses incurred by Marvel and Star Wars.

The Acolyte [Credit: Disney+]

If Disney was set on a path of self-destruction, it could not have looked better than this. With a lack of vision and originality concerning Marvel and Star Wars, Disney has served up more misses than hits in the past few years. Its other profitable IPs have been wading in somewhat murky waters, too, given how the studio has been more focused on fighting off anti-woke right-wing critics rather than investing that time in actually delivering quality material.

Now, the studio seems convinced that doubling down on its past mistakes will help salvage Disney’s tattered reputation in the long run.

Disney Commits Itself to Repeating the Same Mistakes

Pirates of the Caribbean [Credit: Walt Disney Pictures]

The Battle of the Bobs: 2022 marked a significant shift in Disney’s internal structure and leadership when Bob Iger cut his retirement short and returned to power after a succession struggle that ended with the firing of Bob Chapek. Now, the succession drama rises to a fever pitch as the studio looks to replace Iger by New Year’s 2027, marking another major shift in internal restructuring.

The Return of the Pirates: Apart from Marvel, Star Wars, and its animated originals (like Inside Out and Moana), Pirates of the Caribbean had been the only franchise capable of making Disney reign over the box office. However, an oversaturation on the franchise’s part made the last few films feel like a cash-grab opportunity rather than a creative endeavor. As such, calling off the Pirates franchise seemed like a good decision on behalf of the film’s legacy.

However, Jerry Bruckheimer is far from giving up on the Pirates just yet. He has been developing two more scripts in tandem with each other, one involving Johnny Depp and another without the franchise’s former lead actor.

The Johnny Depp Controversy: In the aftermath of Amber Heard‘s 2018 Washington Post op-ed, Disney wasted no time in booting Johnny Depp and calling off all future projects under the Pirates of the Caribbean banner. Jerry Bruckheimer & Co. stood silently by and let the pieces fall where they may while Depp & Heard butted heads in court – once in London and again in Virginia.

The industry shunned both actors as they sought refuge in Europe. No studio, director, or producer was ready to stick their neck out to help Johnny Depp or Amber Heard transition back into the film industry. As the controversy seems to die down, Disney looks keen on bringing back Johnny Depp in a future installment of the Pirates franchise, as confirmed by an exclusive in Variety.

What Johnny Depp’s Return Could Mean for Disney

Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean [Credit: Walt Disney Pictures]

Once upon a time, long, long ago, Hollywood was a far more forgiving place than it is today. Now, the industry is vicious, merciless, and operates under the constant scrutiny of Cancel Culture, public perception, woke ideology, and right-wing conservatives while art suffers on the sidelines, caught amid an endless culture war.

If Johnny Depp were to return to Disney – reconciliations and all included – the studio’s fanbase would be cleaved into two, followed by mass outrage, riots, boycotts, and a call to arms. Those in support of Depp’s return would have to concede in the face of the violent uprising, and if the studio still chooses to move forward with the project without Depp, the controversy would affect the film commercially, rendering the whole operation moot.

The same goes for Disney if the studio reboots the franchise without Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. The actor has singlehandedly made the character his own by endowing him with traits that cannot be replicated. Without Jack Sparrow, a Pirates film would sink. And without Depp, there is no Sparrow.

On the other hand, an ideal scenario presents itself where things could go rather well for Disney… if they exploited the controversy to its benefit. The mass engagement would mean an increased probability of theatrical success for the film. Fans and haters alike would rush to the theaters to either support or disparage Johnny Depp on the big screen.

Depp himself would become a trendsetter if/when he reconciles with Disney. Either way, Disney’s decision to green-light the project could become a watershed moment in the studio’s history that could have repercussions years down the line.

Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is streaming on Disney+.