It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow, but apparently, Disney actually considered it. Johnny Depp has come out saying that Disney wanted to “fire” him over his “Pirates of the Caribbean” performance. The 55-year-old actor’s interpretation of Jack Sparrow in the first film left bosses baffled, and Depp admitted they didn’t understand the character.
In an interview with GQ magazine, Depp said, “Disney hated me. [They were] thinking of every way they could to get rid of me, to fire me.”
Depp went on to describe the reactions he got regarding his interpretation of the Captain. “‘Oh, we’re going to have to subtitle him.’ ‘We don’t understand Captain Jack Sparrow. What’s wrong with him?’ ‘What’s wrong with his arms?’ ‘Is he drunk?’ ‘Is he mentally f***ing stupefied?’ ‘Is he gay?’”
Sparrow’s sexuality was even brought up in a conversation with Disney’s Nina Jacobson — who is openly gay. When Jacobson asked Depp about his character’s sexuality, Depp made sure “to be irreverent” with his answer.
“My tendency, of course, is to be irreverent so I said, ‘Nina, didn’t you know all my characters are gay?’” Depp recalled during the interview. “That was a pretty abrupt end to the conversation. And I just continued shaping Jack the way I believed was best.”
How would you feel if Disney had fired Depp? Can you imagine anyone else playing Captain Jack Sparrow?
By: Maytinee Kramer
