Johnny Depp abandons ship, to head for US in pursuit of Amber
IS Johnny Depp staying or going? Film sources say he abandoned ship and wants to head back to the US but a Pirates spokesman says it’s all rosy on set.
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IS he staying or going?
Hollywood star Johnny Depp reportedly abandoned ship last night, storming off the Gold Coast set of Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales late yesterday, ready to jump on the first available flight back to the US to chase his wife Amber Heard and “salvage his marriage”.
But a spokesman for the production denies the claims saying the reports are ‘completely false’.
“Filming continues as scheduled and he remains in Australia,” said the spokesman.
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“Last night we filmed as usual. Yesterday he filmed as usual so that’s also completely false.”
However, production sources told the Gold Coast Bulletin t
he actor had been due to begin filming key scenes on board his character Captain Jack Sparrow’s beloved ship, The Black Pearl, last night at the $250 million production’s Helensvale set.
But Depp reportedly fled the set before cameras could start rolling.
“He’s going back to the States on the first available private charter flight he can get on,” a source said last night.
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Depp wants to follow Heard, his wife of three months, back to the US.
Her father, David, and Depp and Heard’s two dogs, Boo and Pistol, flew out of Australia on Friday last week.
The Yorkshire terriers were deported after Depp and Heard failed to declare them to Customs officials when they flew into Brisbane on a private charter flight last month.
Depp had initially been scheduled to return to the States with them but changed his plans at the 11th hour after the film’s producers intervened.
Instead, the 51-year-old “went AWOL” from the Helensvale set for almost two hours shortly before Pistol and Boo left Gold Coast Airport.
“He disappeared and no one knew where he was,” a source said.
“He eventually came back and continued filming but no one had any idea where he was or why he left.”
US websites yesterday claimed Heard was homeward bound after being banned from the Pirates 5 set by the film’s producers who were tired of disruptions caused by the couple’s constant fighting.
“Finally, enough was enough, and producers politely asked Johnny to send Amber home as soon as possible,” an insider told US media.
“Right now, everyone’s primary focus should be wrapping up this film. He didn’t want to upset her, so he gently explained the situation and she understood.”
However, sources told the GoldCoast Bulletin Heard had no interest in being here.
An Immigration and Border Protection spokesman said Heard was yet to fly out.
Many of those involved in the film are extremely concerned for Depp’s wellbeing.
Production sources said representatives for the film’s producers, Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, were last night trying to stop Depp from leaving the country — again.
“Disney like to keep things in-house but there’s no chance of that now,” one said.
Depp fled Australia in March after injuring his hand following a wild weekend of partying at former world motorcycling champion Mick Doohan’s Coomera compound.
Production ground to a halt in the absence of the film’s leading man, with hundreds of local crew stood down for several weeks without pay until he returned to resume work.
Production sources said Depp had surgery to have a pin inserted into his hand and underwent ‘in-home rehab” for alcohol abuse — a claim the film’s producers denied at the time.
Heard’s close friendship with photographer Io Tillett Wright, an activist in the gay and lesbian community, is reportedly causing drama in her marriage to Depp.
Body doubles and stand-ins were expected to step in to cover for Depp on set last night.
“They had a plan B to enact if they couldn’t get Johnny back last time, so they will enact that,” a source said.
Filming of the blockbuster, already $70 million over-budget, is scheduled to wrap in late July.
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