Johnny Depp axed as Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ franchise, says writer

In this image released by Disney, Geoffrey Rush portrays Barbossa, left, and Johnny Depp portrays Captain Jack Sparrow in a scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”  Image: Peter Mountain/Disney via AP

Actor Johnny Depp has been axed as Captain Jack Sparrow, one of his most beloved roles, in the “Pirates of the Carribean” franchise.

“I think he’s had a great run,” the movie’s writer Stuart Beattie was quoted in a Daily Mail report released Thursday.

“Obviously, he’s made that character his own and it’s become the character he’s most famous for now,” Beattie was quoted in the report. “And kids all over the world love him as that character so I think it’s been great for him, it’s been great for us, so I’m just very, very happy about it.”

Beattie added that Depp’s role as Sparrow “will be his legacy.” “It’s the only character he’s played five times, it’s the character he dresses up in to visit children in hospitals, it’s what he’ll be remembered for.”

Deadline first reported that the “Pirates of the Carribean” franchise was exploring a reboot, with Disney talking with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the two “Deadpool” movies.

Depp first appeared as Sparrow in “Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” released in 2003. His last appearance as the pirate was in “Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man Tell No Tales” in May 2017.  Katrina Hallare /ra

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