Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow has been the face of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise across five movies in the billion-dollar franchise. But now Disney is helming a sixth swashbuckling film in the series without its lead, as Margot Robbie takes centerstage. In response, many of Depp’s fans have taken to social media demanding his return with the hashtag #NoJohnnyNoPirates.
The 57-year-old has been the subject of controversy in recent years following allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard, which Depp strongly denies.
And this week he’s appeared in London’s High Court where he is suing the publisher of The Sun newspaper over an article in which the actor is referred to as a “wife beater” – a piece The Sun has defended as being an accurate story.
Now his Pirates of the Caribbean co-star has joined many of his fans backing his return as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Greg Ellis, who played Lieutenant Commander Theodore Groves in three of the five Pirates movies, praised Depp’s performance as the much-loved character in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk.
The 52-year-old, who was promoting his new video podcast series The Respondent, said: “Jack Sparrow’s entrance in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was just beautiful in its simplicity.
“It exemplified so much. You have that hero shot at the top of the mast, holding on with one hand; he just looks like everything you optimise a seafaring piratical man to be.
“For me, that moment defined Jack Sparrow. It was so beautifully written and filmed.”
As for Depp returning for a sixth movie, Ellis felt it would be odd not to wrap up a franchise without its lead.
He reiterated that it “starts and ends with story” and said that if her take on the franchise honoured its legacy with its own flavour then “absolutely, I’m all for a reimagining.”
Ellis’ new video podcast series The Respondent explores a whole host of topics including positive masculinity, family law, parenting, sexuality, men’s rights, comedy and greek gods.
The actor also explores how families communicate, how we cope with device dependency and finding the good in people.”
He argued: “All of that conversation seems to have been very stilted, stopped and stunted in the court of public opinion, [which is] judging everyone and cancelling so many people who are losing their livelihoods.”
The actor, who says The Respondent is a pleading for everyone to be more humane to each other added: “One minute it’s JK Rowling who’s the devil and the next minute it’s someone else who’s the devil.
“We’re all just human beings you know?
“Can’t we be a bit more civil with our discourse?”
