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Will Johnny Depp act again? A look at actor’s scheduled films as he returns to the stand in Amber Heard trial

Johnny Depp is set to take the stand today (Monday 23 May) in his ongoing defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Depp is suing Heard for $50m (£38.2m). He alleges that Heard implied that he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence.

The article does not mention him by name.

Heard is countersuing for $100m (£80.9m), accusing Depp of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her and describing his lawsuit as a continuation of “abuse and harassment”.

Throughout the case, Depp and his legal representatives have referred to the actor’s career being negatively impacted as a result of the claims.

Last month, talent agent Christian Carino testified that he believes Heard’s allegations of abuse cost Depp the job of playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, having portrayed the character in five previous films.

In 2020, Depp bowed out of his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise after losing a domestic violence libel case against The Sun.

Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on 19 May 2022 (SHAWN THEW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on 19 May 2022 (SHAWN THEW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, some fans have questioned whether the three-time Oscar-nominee will work professionally again.

Though his future presence in Hollywood productions is unconfirmed as of yet, Depp is reported to have at least one acting role in the pipeline.

He is expected to star in the forthcoming French-language film Jeanne du Barry, playing the controversial French king, Louis XV. As reported in Variety earlier this year, the period drama will be directed by Maïwenn, who also stars as the ruler’s mistress, Jeanne Bécu.

Elsewhere, Depp has recently provided the voice of Johnny Puff in the children’s web mini-series, Puffins Impossible.

Plans for the sixth instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean have yet to be confirmed, but according to film producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the door isn’t completely closed for Depp to make a return.

When asked by The Sunday Times earlier this month whether there was a view for him to return as Captain Jack Sparrow, he responded: “Not at this point. The future is yet to be decided.”

Outside of these projects, the actor has also gone viral for his behaviour during the trial proceedings, with actions such as joking about bringing waffles for fans spreading widely across social media platforms.

The dispute between Depp and Heard has prompted reactions from a number of high profile figures. Here’s a rundown of the celebrities who have voiced their support for Heard, while here’s a list of the celebrities who have thrown support behind Depp.

Also, here’s The Independent’s liveblog of the Depp v Heard trial as it happens.