Fans threaten to boycott new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film if Johnny Depp is replaced

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Pirates Of The  Caribbean’ fans are losing their cool over the rumored replacement of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow at the immensely popular Disney franchise.

Many fans are threatening to boycott the fantasy franchise if the 60-year-old actor and musician is replaced.

The root of the contention happens to have started when the rumor of Ayo Edebiri of ‘The Bear’ fame replacing Depp in the ‘Pirates’ started doing the rounds of the internet. 

According to a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) a user by the name ‘Unlimited L’s’  claimed Edebiri would be playing the role of a pirate based on the life of 18th-century female pirate Anne Bonny.

The rumor was, nevertheless, clarified soon by Daniel Richtman of RPK News, who claimed to be the original source of the rumor.

He clarified on X that there would be no “replacing Depp.” Rather, Edebiri’s alleged take on the pirate’s role would be a spin-off of the original series.

The fifth installment of the franchise came out in 2017. Since then the rumor of a sixth installment has been swirling. 

However, following Johnny Depp’s contentious court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, the return of Depp to the franchise was jeopardized. Now that the rumor of him getting replaced is spreading like wildfire, fans are speculating to boycott the series.

Nevertheless, Richtman cleared the air and said Edebiri is considered for a spin-off of the actual series.

He took to his X account and said, “Credit would be nice, though I'm not sure I'd want credit from these people. Besides, it's not true, there's no "Replacing Depp" or anything like that. She's only the "Type" they're looking at for the lead in one of the planned spinoffs (not the Margot Robbie one).”

Rumor also had it that the ‘Barbie’ star Margot Robbie may frontline another spinoff of the series. 

Johnny Depp's future with Disney franchise

As the news of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s fallout surfaced, the ‘Edward Scissorhands’ star was axed from the franchise.

During the court battle, when Depp sued Heard for defamation, the star declared that he would not work with Disney ever again even if they offered him $300 million.

He has not yet publicly retracted on that statement.

Internet threatens to boycott franchise if Johnny Depp is replaced

Fans reacted passionately to the rumor of a Depp-less 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise, with many of them voicing their opinion on Facebook. 

One of the fans said, "Without him, the movie is going to be like Mickey Mouse in the Caribbean with pirates."

Someone else said, "Johnny depp is the one that made the movies soo much fun to watch .... dont replace him."

"Depp or it'll sink!!!" warned another social media user.

"If it ain't Depp for sure I'm not watching," declared an angry social media user.

Someone else remarked at the rumor of Disney replacing the character with a female one, "Go woke go broke 😂."

"You got that right Johnny Depps role is legendary," said another fan.

Another fan of Depp said, "There is only one captain Jack sparrow and that's Johnny depp one and only xx."

Someone else reiterated, "There is only one Captain Jack Sparrow. Try it with anyone else & they may as well not bother because it will be a flop."

"Let’s replace Depp with a nobody. Smart move Hollywood. I’ll keep my $14," observed another enraged fan. 

Someone else said, "Without Johnny Depp that movie is garbage.."

"Zero interest in anything without Depp," commenetd another.

Another fan put it pointedly, "I won’t boycott it or anything since boycotts are not only stupid but has never worked!!! The only thing I’ll say is that Depp make that franchise with his take on the character!!!"