Johnny Depp’s fall from grace continues as the formerly A-list actor is reportedly no longer involved with a high-end TV production about the famed illusionist Harry Houdini. The Pirates of the Caribbean star was set to play the titular role in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced series. Unfortunately for Depp, this news only scratches the surface of the actor’s various ongoing contractual and legal issues.
Depp’s status began to unravel in 2016 when his then-wife Amber Heard filed for divorce, accused him of domestic abuse, and obtained a temporary restraining order against him. Heard received $7 million from the divorce settlement, which she donated to charity. Last month, Depp lost his libel case against British tabloid The Sun, and was then denied the right to appeal. Depp fought the publication in court for referring to him as a “wife-beater” in 2018. Only a few days after the court ruling, Depp announced that he had been asked to resign from his role as Gellert Grindelwald for Warner Bros’ upcoming third Fantastic Beasts film. Though Depp only filmed for one day, he will receive his full salary per his pay-or-play contract.
Depp’s relationship with one of his strongest longtime industry allies, producer Bruckheimer, is also faltering. THR reports “Depp’s relationship with Bruckheimer has frayed in recent months.” Depp was set to play illusionist Harry Houdini in a TV show produced by Bruckheimer, his first television role since starring in 21 Jump Street in the late 80s, early 90s. However, the defamation ruling has reportedly made his casting in the show "untenable." Disney also shot down Bruckheimer’s push to include Depp in the next Pirates of the Caribbean installment, which will reportedly be led by Margot Robbie in a female-centric reboot. As a top crisis communications specialist noted, “Johnny Depp is a worst-case scenario for handling bad PR. I use him as the model for telling my clients what not to do.”
Depp’s legal troubles are far from over, as the actor is also suing Heard for defamation in Virginia over her 2018 column in The Washington Post about her experience as a victim of domestic violence. Though the actor is never directly named in the article, his team insists that it implies Heard's column is about Depp. Depp also faces another trial in 2021 in which a crew member from the crime drama City of Lies has accused Depp of punching him twice when they were on set.
While Depp’s self-engineered career implosion is perhaps more sudden and more colossal than most, the tale of hubris is as old as time. In the #MeToo era, it’s becoming clear that the industry is finally adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward abusers, something that should have always been the case. With multiple legal trials still ahead of him, it's evident this Houdini TV show may not be the last project that decides to sever ties with Depp.
Source: THR