Disney reportedly blocked Johnny Depp from making a returning cameo appearance to the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise.
The entertainment conglomerate had distanced itself from the 57-year-old actor even before his 'wife beater' libel trial in the UK, despite never formally severing ties according to The Hollywood Reporter.
But the publication also claims that Disney 'balked' at executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer's idea of bringing back Depp for a cameo in the female-centric spin-off of the franchise, rumored to be led by Margot Robbie.
Social distance: Disney reportedly blocked Johnny Depp (seen in London back in July) from returning to the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise according to The Hollywood Reporter
Signature role: Depp had portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow in all five Pirates Of The Caribbean films from 2006 to 2017 which Jerry Bruckheimer produced
Depp had portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow in all five Pirates Of The Caribbean films from 2006 to 2017 which 77-year-old Bruckheimer produced.
The THR report claimed that super producer Bruckheimer has been one of Depp's 'biggest champions' alleging that he tried to cover for the star, saying his finger injury happened because "he got it caught in a car door" despite Depp blaming it on his ex-wife Amber Heard.
However, despite his efforts to get Depp to return to the franchise, Disney said no and his relationship with the actor is said have frayed in recent months.
There have already been multiple petitions signed by more than a million fans online, that have demanded Depp be reinstated in his role as Sparrow.
Meanwhile, in the same article it was reported that Depp had tried to keep his wife Heard from starring in the 2018 action film Aquaman, with the actor allegedly attempting to have her replaced from the movie.
Depp reportedly expressed his desire to have Heard removed in a message he sent to his sister Christi Dembrowski, a producer who once had a deal with the studio and still wielded influence at the company, according to THR .
'I want her replaced on the WB film,' he allegedly wrote to Dembrowski.
The message was uncovered by the publication in Justice Andrew Nicol's 132-page ruling against Depp in his libel lawsuit against The Sun's publisher, which he lost.
'I want her replaced': In the same article it was reported that he had tried to keep his wife Amber Heard from starring in the 2018 action film Aquaman, with the actor allegedly attempting to have her replaced from the movie
The actor reportedly said during the trial that the film in reference was Aquaman.
Heard stars opposite Jason Momoa in the film and plays Mera, his love interest.
Interestingly, the report comes just several days after a petition calling for Heard's firing from Aquaman 2 received more than 1.5 million signatures, with Depp fans claiming she 'systematically crusaded' to ruin his career.
'Since Heard's divorce from Johnny Depp, she has systematically crusaded to ruin Depp in Hollywood,' the petition claimed.
Sending a message: 'I want her replaced on the WB film,' Depp reportedly wrote to Dembrowski
Despite a judge ruling Depp had attacked his ex-wife a dozen times, over a million fans signed the petition.
The petition also alleged that Heard 'created false accounts of him being the abuse' before demanding Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment remove Heard from production.
Heard addressed rumors she wouldn't reprise the role last month with Entertainment Weekly, noting: 'Paid rumours and paid campaigns on social media don't dictate [casting decisions] because they have no basis in reality.
Action flick: Heard stars opposite Jason Momoa in the film and plays Mera, his love interest
'Only the fans actually made Aquaman and Aquaman 2 happen. I'm excited to get started next year.'
The backlash comes after Depp lost his libel case against The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers and executive editor Dan Wootton for calling him a 'wife beater' in a 2018 article.
Heard and Depp have repeatedly accused each other of domestic abuse during their two-year marriage that ended in 2017.
Bitter split: Heard and Depp have repeatedly accused each other of domestic abuse during their two-year marriage that ended in 2017 (pictured 2014)
'Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Deppin the new Fantastic Beasts film?' the headline read.
Justice Nicol determined in October that claim was 'substantially true' and ruled the libel case in the publisher's favor - a massive blow to Depp's million dollar case.
The fallout has dented his career, which recently resulted in his departure from author JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts movie franchise.
Depp, who played Gellert Grindelwald, announced is departure from the role after studio executives reportedly requested his resignation.
Depp has since applied to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn a High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife and put her in fear for her life as he binged on drink and drugs, it was revealed yesterday.
Legal loss: The backlash comes after Depp lost his libel case against The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers and executive editor Dan Wootton for calling him a 'wife beater' in a 2018 article (pictured in 2014)
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