Johnny Depp’s career ended after losing libel case, experts say

• Days after losing his defamation lawsuit against The Sun, Johnny Depp said he was “asked to step down” from his role in “Fantastic Beasts 3”. But that’s just the start of how the actor’s career will be affected, experts have said.
• His career as a leading man was already on the decline before his ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations of domestic violence went public in 2016.
• Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told Insider he saw no way to return for Depp and that he believed the 57-year-old actor would become “the next Harvey Weinstein.”
• Depp has consistently denied the allegations of domestic violence made against him by Heard.
• Visit the Insider home page for more stories.

Johnny Depp’s career is over. At least, that’s what the experts say.

In a 129-page ruling last week, London High Court Judge Andrew Nicol dismissed the former “Pirates of the Caribbean” star’s libel claim against UK newspaper The Sun for a 2018 article calling Depp of “wife beater”. on allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-wife Amber Heard. The judge concluded that the article was “essentially true”.

During the much-publicized trial – a 16-day blockbuster – Depp and Heard’s turbulent 15-month marriage was separated in excruciating detail, and the excesses of Depp’s toxic, drug-fueled lifestyle were laid bare.

Depp’s career was on a downtrend before any allegations of domestic violence

Disney

Depp first rose to prominence on the ’80s hit TV show “21 Jump Street”. He rose to Hollywood stardom with Tim Burton’s favorite cult film “Edward Scissorhands” in 1990, alongside future partner Winona Ryder.

Over the next several decades he was acclaimed for his roles as misunderstood and brooding loners and antiheroes in films such as “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, “Donnie Brasco” and “Sleepy Hollow”.

Since 2003, Depp is perhaps best known as the mischievous Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s famous “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise. Depp was nominated for an Oscar in 2004 for his work on the first film, “The Curse of the Black Pearl,” and in 2015, with the fifth installment of the series, Depp was estimated to be worth around $ 55 million per film. The “Pirates” movies, thanks to Depp, were a gem in Disney’s box office playbook; the five films grossed $ 4.5 billion worldwide.

But in recent years, Depp has failed to reach similar heights at the box office. New offerings such as “Transcendence,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Dark Shadows” – directed by longtime collaborator Burton – have burst into critics and disappointed at the box office, signaling that audiences are tired of its gothic shtick.

While Depp’s films have grossed over $ 4 billion domestically over the decades, pundits have said he may have reached the end of his road.

“I predict his career may never turn around,” Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told Insider. “Disney lost interest in Depp for their ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise, and I can’t imagine any other big studio wanting to work with him. He’ll be the next Harvey Weinstein.

Warner Bros. wanted to part ways with Depp even before losing his libel case

Warner Bros.

Days after the defamation lawsuit, Depp said he was “asked to resign by Warner Bros.” from the “Fantastic Beasts” series.

Stacy Jones, CEO of Hollywood Branded, a pop culture influencer and branded content marketing agency in Los Angeles, told Insider that while Warner Bros. seemed to be moving away from Depp quickly after the trial, the plan was to ‘abandoning the actor “was actually a very well orchestrated plan, constructed over time with the start of the trial.”

At first it seemed like the Potterverse would stand by her man’s side and ignore the serious allegations as another celebrity tabloid flaw. In an interview with “Harry Potter” fan site The Leaky Cauldron in late 2016, shortly after Heard’s allegations became public, “Fantastic Beasts” director David Yates defended Depp. “In this business, it’s a weird old business,” he said. “You’re brilliant one week, people say weird things the next, you go up and down. But nobody takes your pure talent away from you.”

In a statement posted to his personal blog in 2017, “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling said, “The filmmakers and I are not only comfortable with our original cast, but really happy to have Johnny play a major character in the movies. “

But now that the extent of Depp’s abusive behavior is a matter of common knowledge, he is untouchable. If a brand, filmmaker or producer employs a celebrity whose name is associated with allegations of abuse, this is often seen as a sign of acceptance or approval. And as the industry suffers during the COVID-19 pandemic, many studios prefer to make a safe bet.

“The reality is that Warner Bros. had no choice in this matter to say goodbye to Depp,” Jones said. “Fantastic Beasts” is a family film, and physical abuse alongside drugs and alcohol is not an issue, even when the role is that of a villain. “

“ Depp should leave the defamation prosecution industry as long as he still has a fragment of his film career ”

Reuters

Although Depp was ousted from “Fantastic Beasts” and has only shot one scene since filming began in September, he will still receive full compensation as a “pay or play” clause in his contract means he must be paid whether it appears or not. on screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Although the fact that he continues to pay his eight-figure fees has probably made the pill of being asked (or more) to step down and quit easier to swallow,” Jones said, “it doesn It’s still not easy. on the ego – or the finances – especially knowing that this might just be the last major deal to come for a while. “

Jones told Insider the only way forward for Depp would be to “admit your fault, accept the responsibility” and genuinely start reforming. “At no time until then,” she said, will Depp’s career “stand a chance of survival.”

But Depp’s lawyers have already announced the actor will be appealing in London. And he filed a separate $ 50 million libel suit against Heard in Virginia for a column she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 describing her experience with domestic violence. Although Depp was not named in Heard’s column, the actor’s legal team said it was strongly inferred that it was him. Depp has consistently denied the allegations made against him.

Rahmani told Insider he thought a second trial was a waste of Depp’s time.

“Depp should retire from the defamation prosecution business as long as he still has a fragment of his film career,” he said. “The Virginia case is also a loser, as are many celebrity family law cases that do little to show celebrities in a good light. Depp should stick to scripts written by others instead. than airing his real drama in a courtroom. “

The second case is likely to unfold in the same dramatic detail as the first, but that hasn’t seemed to worry Depp and his advisers who are determined to pursue him. His case before the court of public opinion, however, appears to be over.

So long, Jack Sparrow.