'It’s stupid money': Johnny Depp believes he was OVERPAID for one of his highest-grossing roles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Johnny Depp's fans never gave up hopes of seeing the adored star as Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' once again even after he was fired by Disney in 2018 and became embroiled in protracted legal battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Sean Bailey, head of Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, recently spoke with The New York Times about the state of the sixth film and rekindled hopes for Depp's potential return to the much-loved pirates' franchise. "We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say," he said.
Controversies aside, Depp's Hollywood career has spanned more than three decades. He has made an indelible mark with roles like Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean', the gothic outsider Edward Scissorhands, and candy-making genius Willy Wonka. He has received critical recognition for his distinctive portrayals and is also one of Hollywood's highest-earning actors. However, there have been recent rumors that the 59-year-old icon believes he was overpaid for one of his highest-grossing performances, which has caused concern in the entertainment industry.
'It's ridiculous'
The recent news has brought Depp back into the public eye. The actor reportedly stated in an unexpected revelation that he thought he was overpaid for one of his highest-earning performances. Concerns over actors' pay in the movie industry have been raised in response to his open admission. "Basically, if they’re going to pay me the stupid money right now, I’m going to take it,” Depp told Vanity Fair about his 'Pirates' paycheck. "I have to. I mean, it’s not for me. Do you know what I mean? At this point, it’s for my kids. It’s ridiculous, yeah, yeah. But ultimately is it for me? No. No. It’s for the kids."
What was Depp paid for 'Pirates' movies?
Depp has reportedly made more than $300 million from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. His starting pay for the first movie, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl', was $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Additionally, he ended up making $60 million for the second movie, 'Dead Man's Chest', of which $40 million was the backside. His base pay was boosted to $50 million for the third movie, 'At World's End'. According to Forbes, the producers gave Johnny Depp $55 million for the fourth movie, 'On Stranger Tides'. Additionally, they claimed that the actor received $90 million for the fifth movie, 'Dead Man Tells No Tales'.