Despite Johnny Depprecent controversies, Wednesday director Tim Burton says he is willing to work with Depp again. Burton, who is currently advertising his upcoming Addams Familyinspired series for Netflix, began his film career as an animator for Disney. Burton’s works, which range from the horror comedy beetle juice to the biographical drama Ed Wood, are known for its dark whimsical style. Throughout his career, Burton has often collaborated with Depp, who has starred in several of his films, including: Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Chopper of Fleet Street. The pair last worked together in 2012 for Burton’s big-screen adaptation of dark shadows.
Although he was once the main protagonist in Disney’s popular pirates of the caribbean series, Depp’s career has been embroiled in controversy in recent years. Perhaps most notably, the actor was involved in a widely publicized defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard after she alleged that Depp was verbally and physically abusive during their relationship. The trial ended in June, and although the jury ruled in Depp’s favor, the proceedings had already apparently damaged Depp’s career. In 2020, Warner Bros. Depp to resign from his Fantastic Beasts series during the production of the third film, and Disney had already released a statement confirming that Depp would not return for the planned Pirates of the Caribbean 6
While it appears that Depp’s popularity has waned since the abuse allegations began, he is not let down by his longtime collaborator, Tim Burton. In a recent interview with Reuters (through ComicBook.com), Burton claimed he would be working with Depp again, explaining that he is looking for the right person for all his work. Watch Burton’s statement below:
“If the right thing was around, sure… I think with everyone, just you, I never work with anyone, not even with my friends, it’s not like a party, so I’d always like to try it with him or someone else go; what’s the role? What’s the thing? And then it’s the right thing, is it the right character? I take things on that basis and no other.”
Can Johnny Depp Make a Comeback?
While Burton is willing to recast Depp, the actor has appeared in few roles since the libel trial began, and well before that. Depp’s reputation has certainly suffered some serious setbacks in recent years, and with the sharp decline in acting roles Depp has taken, it currently seems unlikely that he will ever achieve the widespread popularity he once had. After all, Depp has no plans to return to his two biggest roles: Jack Sparrow in pirates of the caribbean and Gellert Grindewald in Fantastic Beasts. The actor’s next role is as King Louis XV in the upcoming French movie, La Favorite.
Despite such controversy, Depp still has a devoted fan base and many supporters. Alongside Burton, Mads Mikkelsen, who replaced Depp in the third Fantastic Beasts movie, said he said Depp’s return to the Fantastic Beasts franchise as it happens. Depp will also appear in the Savage X Fenty fashion show which will be available to stream on Prime Video on November 9. Perhaps, with these appearances and if Burton lives up to his words, depp ever overcome the allegations of the past.
Source: Reuters (through ComicBook.com)
