The libel lawsuit brought by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard, which is being held in Fairfax court in the suburbs of Washington, continues and delivers many details every day on the tumultuous marriage of the comedians; they divorced in 2017. On Monday, May 2, the actor’s agent notably mentioned the heavy financial consequences for his client after the editorial published by the actress in which she said she was the victim of domestic violence.
Jack Whigham, the agent hired by Johnny Depp since 2016 to manage his career, testified in court by video and recounted how the actor was impacted by the editorial written by Amber Heard and published in 2018 in the washington post in motion #MeToo in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence without, however, citing her former husband. Very quickly, the contracts became rare and the fortune of the hero of Charlie and the chocolate factory started melting… In 2017, the year of his divorce, he had received just over 30 million dollars (8 million for City of Lies10 million for Murder on the Orient Express and 13.5 million for the second part of the Fantastic Beasts). But, the following year, things got complicated, reports AFP.
According to Jack Whigham, Johnny Depp had “wanted to take some time for him“after these big shoots and had thus only accepted two independent films: The Professor for 3.5 million and Waiting for the Barbarians for 1 million. Besides, “an agreement had been reached” – although “ailing– for him to reprise the cult and brilliant role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the sixth installment of the franchise Pirates of the Caribbean for the very tidy sum of 22.5 million dollars! But, in the meantime, the editorial shared by Amber Heard reacted and the studios immediately became cautious with the famous comedian, whose behavior on the sets does not already play in his favor because of his penchant for alcohol…
I could not save this very lucrative role
“After the editorial, it became impossible to get a contract with a studio“, said Jack Whigham. The latter relates that after negotiations with Disney studios, he was unable to convince them to keep the role of Jack Sparrow for Johnny Depp, the powerful firm then preferring to take “another direction“for the scenario…”I could not save this very lucrative role“, added the agent, recalling that in 2019, his client had received only 3 million dollars for the film Minamata; his latest to date.
In November 2020, after his lost lawsuit against the British tabloid The Sun who had described him as an abusive husband, the actor also loses his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the 3rd installment of the saga Fantastic Beasts. But, this time, he still receives the sum of 10 million dollars because of a clause called pay or play in his contract which stipulates that Johnny Depp will have to receive his full salary, whether the film is made or not, and even if his role is assigned to another actor (this was the case since it is Mads Mikkelsen who takes over the role) . Note that, in 2023, he is expected in the film The Favorite by Maïwenn.
Johnny Depp, whose personal fortune is however assessed by Celebrity Net Worth at $100 million, denies ever laying a hand on a woman. Accusing him of having ruined his reputation and his career, he claims from Amber Heard the sum of 50 million dollars in damages. She counter-attacked and claims 100 million dollars.