Disney confirms Johnny Depp axed from ‘Pirates of Caribbean’ franchise

Johnny Depp will not return as his iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ in the next part of the franchise, as Disney’s film production chief Sean Bailey confirmed his exit.

A Disney producer said Depp will stop playing Captain Jack Sparrow after 14 years so the movies can have a reboot. “We want to bring in a new energy and vitality," Sean Bailey told The Hollywood Reporter.

Disney is in talks with ‘Deadpool’ writer Paul and Rhett to write the reboot. “I love the [Pirates] movies, but part of the reason Paul and Rhett are so interesting is that we want to give it a kick in the pants. And that's what I've tasked them with," Bailey added.

Earlier, script writer Stuart Beattie also hinted at Depp’s possible exit from the franchise. "I think Johnny's had a great run. Obviously, he's made that character his own and it's become the character he's most famous for now. I think Jack Sparrow will be his legacy,” he told Daily Mail.

Last ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ in 2017 was the lowest performing of the five films. The series has grossed more than $4.5 billion making it the 12th biggest franchise in movie history.