As his defamation case continues in Virginia, actor Johnny Depp and his manager are arguing that his ex-wife and actress Amber Heard cost her ex-husband at least $22.5 million for his lost role in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6.’
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Depp’s Manager Testifies Against Amber Heard
Jack Whigham, who is Depp’s former agent and current talent manager, took the stand on Monday (May 2) and gave further intel on his client’s finances.
While Depp’s legal team continued to examine witnesses on their client’s behalf, Whigham specifically spoke on the money his client lost from the sixth installment of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean‘ franchise that never happened.
Whigham is claiming the financial loss was due to Depp’s ex-wife’s own doing, via her “defamatory” op-ed published in ‘The Washington Post‘ back in 2018, a year after the former couple divorced.
In his testimony, Whigham claims his client had a planned role in the sixth installment of the ‘Pirates‘ film. He believes there is zero doubt in his mind that his client lost the part because of Heard, which ended up costing Depp a whopping $22.5 million.
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Johnny Depp Loses $22.5M From ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6‘
While testifying, Whigham was asked, “Did Mr. Depp ever have a deal to perform in ‘Prates 6′?” He replied, “We finished the deal. We closed the deal at twenty two and a half million for that film, is my memory.”
When asked which studio was involved in the ‘Pirates‘ films, including ‘Prates 6,’ Whigham said, “Disney.” When asked what role Mr. Depp was set to play, he said, “Captain Jack Sparrow.”
Whigham was then asked if the $22.5 million was due to be sent by Disney or some other entity, and he responded, “Disney.” And for when the money was due to paid to Mr. Depp, Whigham said, “It would be paid when he shoots the principal photography. So when the film shoots.”
Whigham is then asked who the producer of the ‘Prates‘ franchise is and he responded, “Jerry Bruckheimer,” and adds that he does not work for Disney. The follow-up question then asked, “In 2017, to what extent if any, was Mr. Bruckheimer supportive of Mr. Depp remaining in the ‘Prates‘ franchise?”
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Depp’s Manager Explains How Hollywood Deals Work
During Whigham’s cross-examination, he also admitted that the deal was NOT yet put in writing, but it was heavily discussed. Unfortunately for Depp and his legal team, Heard and her legal team clung close to this statement, despite Whigham explaining that getting the deal and its number in writing is not how the business goes — or at least at that stage.
Whigham goes on to claim that talks like these, with high-level actors and big studios, especially when pertaining to franchises, are most times had on a verbal level first. Once the studio gives the green light to move forward, they will then inform the actor on what they can expect for the next chapter, should one even happen.
So, in Depp’s case, his manager claims that the ‘Prates‘ 6 film was due to begin production with Depp in a main role as his infamous character portrayal of “Jack Sparrow.” However, everything was put on hold after Heard’s op-ed mentioned above — the reason for Depp’s current defamation case, where he is suing his ex-wife for $50 million in damages.
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