Last year, Johnny Depp lost his libel case against The Sun newspaper. The 57-year-old had been referred to as a “wife beater” by the publication – an accusation that the star strongly denies. Since the news, Depp was asked to resign from the Fantastic Beasts movies by Warner Bros who have since recast his Grindelwald with Mads Mikkelsen. As the actor seeks an appeal of the UK High Court’s decision in his libel case, his fans have been rallying around him in support.
And the latest show of support is the monthly virtual Depp Movies Nights.
Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean star who call themselves Deppheads simultaneously watch a movie from the actor’s back catalogue and live tweet with hashtags like #DeppMovieNight and #Deppruary
Plus one likes #WeSupportJohnnyDepp and #WeStandWithJohnnyDepp which they want to get trending on Twitter.
The Depp Movie Night Twitter account announced tonight’s watchalong with petitions for fans to share.
READ MORE: Pirates of the Caribbean: Depp gave Sparrow sway for clever reason
Depp Movie Night tweeted: “#DeppMovieNight is about supporting Johnny. So, if you’re watching POTC or FB, on 11th #Deppruary, share their corresponding petitions.
“(We know the FB will have no affect but it shows how many people WB have displeased).”
The attached petitions were ones demanding Depp be reinstated as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts.
The Pirates one has almost half a million signatures, while the latter is almost at its goal of 200,000.
McNally made his comments during a chat with Ellis on the latter’s video podcast The Respondent.
The Mr Gibbs actor said:“ My dream is that some sort of link will be needed between what has been before and whatever bizarre incarnation of it there is to come.
“But I sincerely think that my fate is so tied in with Johnny’s that I will go with him, if indeed he does go.”
Asked if Depp’s Jack Sparrow should be in Pirates 6, McNally said: “Yes is the simple answer to that.”
McNally added: “My feelings about this are very complex because in a sense there was a slight feeling that the franchise itself had played out a little bit, so a reboot is a reasonable idea.
“I don’t think a reboot, if you concentrate on younger characters, should still exclude Jack Sparrow. I came up with an idea that there should be some young person searching for Jack Sparrow with Mr Gibbs helping find him.
“And then we find Jack Sparrow at the end. It wouldn’t involve too much work from Jack Sparrow. But who knows. Having some experience now I don’t know why they made the decisions that they make.”
The Mr Gibbs star feels that a lot of people will not bother seeing a Pirates of the Caribbean movie without Depp in it.
