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Credit: Marvel Studios (left), Disney (right)Actor Johnny Depp has been in the limelight for quite some time.
Depp’s acting career took off in the 1980s when he gained recognition for his role on the television series “21 Jump Street.” However, it was his collaboration with director Tim Burton that truly propelled him to stardom. Depp’s collaborations with Burton, such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), and Sleepy Hollow (1999), showcased his ability to portray eccentric and unconventional characters with depth and precision. These performances earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
Throughout his career, Johnny Depp has displayed an incredible range as an actor. He seamlessly transitions between different genres, whether it be drama, comedy, fantasy, or crime. Some of his notable roles include Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where he brought the charismatic pirate to life, and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), where he added his own peculiar twist to the iconic character.
Many fans have wondered what might be next for Johnny Depp as his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard has come to an end. Disney confirmed that it has plans to make a Pirates of the Caribbean 6, but there has been no word on Johnny Depp and a potential reprisal as Captain Jack Sparrow. The latest we heard indicated that Disney was “noncommittal” to the actor currently, and though there has been bad blood between the two parties, an insider close to Depp said that he would, indeed, return if “it was the right project.”
One role that we know for sure Johnny Depp will not be reprising is Willy Wonka. The latest trailer featuring Timothee Chalamet in the role, which was once held by both Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder, has received quite the amount of attention. The new film, titled Wonka (2023), is being produced by Warner Bros. and is said to be a prequel to Johnny Depp’s character that we saw in the 2005 movie.
What many fans may not have known, though, is that it was a tactic used by Tom Holland that ultimately landed Timothee Chalamet the role as Johnny Depp’s replacement.
According to recent reports, Warner Bros. was still up-in-the-air on who it would replace Johnny Depp with, until the company saw showcase his dancing and musical skills, including his tap-dancing ability.
“I knew that was in his arsenal, but I didn’t know how good he was,” Director Paul King said. “When I spoke to him, he was quite keen. He’d done tap dancing in high school and he was like, ‘I’d quite like to show people I can do that.’”
The ability to showcase an asset to the film outside of the standard acting was inspired largely by Tom Holland. Holland, who is best known for playing the role of Peter Parker / Spider-Man, actually went through eight different auditions on his way to earning the MCU role. Holland revealed in an interview that he sent videos of him doing backflips and showcasing his gymnastics ability to the Disney Executives in hopes that it would win them over.
In an audition with Chris Evans, Holland even did a backflip when the duo was reading a fight scene. Ultimately, it landed him the job and the rest, they say, is history.
It’s interesting to think that showcasing extra talents that may be useful to the film can land an actor the job, and in this case, it was huge for Timothee Chalamet and his quest to become the replacement for Johnny Depp.
As for Depp, his latest film– Jeanne Du Barry (2023)– debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. He is dabbling in directing, acting, and music currently. Even with a broken ankle, the entertainer played at the Jeff Beck Tribute Concert to honor his longtime friend, and it will be intriguing to see how long it will take before he makes a return to Hollywood.