Johnny Depp vanishes from set amid Amber Heard drama

In Australia, during the filming of the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, titled Dead Men Tell No Tales, issues arose arising from Johnny Depp's tumultuous relationship with Amber Heard. This production phase took place in 2017, amidst significant public scrutiny related to Depp and Heard's personal struggles, which included legal disputes and allegations of domestic abuse. The year before, in March 2015, Depp suffered a severe injury where he lost part of his finger due to an incident allegedly involving Heard. Consequently, production was halted as Depp was flown to the US for surgery. The delay significantly impacted the crew, consisting of over 200 members, who were left waiting for direction while the lead actor dealt with his personal issues. During this time, many of them witnessed the repercussions of Depp's situation firsthand, leading to extended hours of waiting on set and uncertainty about filming schedules. Thwaites disclosed he spent a considerable amount of time, approximately 12-and-a-half hours, awaiting the arrival of cast and crew while he practiced flamenco by his trailer, oblivious to the underlying reasons for the disruptions. He expressed surprise upon later realizing that Depp’s absences were likely tied to the increasing tension in his personal life, which had begun to attract media attention historically associated with their relationship. Although he was not directly informed about the details of Depp's disputes, it became evident to Thwaites how these dynamics contributed to the overall atmosphere on set. The challenges faced during filming are reflective not just of Depp's situation, but also of the broader cultural narrative established by the public's insatiable interest in celebrity dramas. Depp's legal disputes with Heard culminated in a highly publicized defamation trial in 2022, which captured worldwide attention and involved debates about the nature of their relationship. While Thwaites noted the film did not perform well at the box office, he acknowledged that the media spectacle surrounding Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in 2022 had become a cultural phenomenon, overshadowing various other popular stories at the time. He highlighted that during the filming period, the developing narrative about Depp and Heard was poised to grow and ultimately became part of a larger discourse on celebrity, personal struggles, and public perception in Hollywood. This connection between the movie's production and Depp's highly scrutinized life showcases the intersection of personal and professional experiences in the film industry, where actors’ off-screen lives can have significant repercussions on their work and audience reception.