Uncanceling Johnny Depp: Why Hollywood appears ready to forgive its problematic star

According to CNN, the trailer for Paramount Pictures' "Ebenezer" features star Johnny Depp winking at the camera and stating, "It's good to be back," and "I'm not the man I was." The film represents Depp's biggest role in a major release since his ex-wife's allegations of abuse and lengthy legal battles pushed the once-bankable star out of Hollywood. CNN reported that the fallout cost Depp his role as the villain in the Harry Potter spinoff series "Fantastic Beasts" and led to a near-decade-long absence from major Hollywood studios. During his hiatus, Depp busied himself with indie and self-produced projects, including starring as Louis XV in the 2023 French film "Jeanne du Barry," which earned a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival according to executive producer Nellee Holmes.

Paramount is testing audience reception with a November 13 release for "Ebenezer," a family-friendly Christmas adaptation directed by horror filmmaker Ti West and co-starring Rupert Grint, Ian McKellan, and Daisy Ridley. CNN reported that studio test audiences rated Depp and the film highly, and a source familiar with the film stated that data showing continued audience enthusiasm for Depp drove his casting. Paramount previously tested public reaction by sending Depp in full costume and makeup to San Diego Comic-Con over the summer. Crisis PR firm executive Evan Nierman told CNN that addressing the controversy head-on was a smart strategy to defang it, noting that a critical mass of the population has no hesitation about watching Depp's films. Following "Ebenezer," Depp is scheduled to star in "Day Drinker" alongside Penelope Cruz and Madelyn Cline, and talks have restarted for him to potentially resume his role in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, as reported by CNN.

Depp's downward spiral began in 2016 when Amber Heard filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order citing verbal and physical abuse during their marriage, which Depp continually denied. CNN reported that Depp subsequently lost his "Fantastic Beasts" role after a UK judge ruled that a British tabloid's description of Depp as a "wife-beater" was substantially true following a trial featuring allegations of severe physical abuse. Depp then sued Heard for defamation in a televised US trial over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, which concluded in 2022 when a Virginia jury awarded damages in a mixed verdict and both parties reached a settlement. George Washington University Law School professor Mary Anne Franks told CNN that the massive media coverage of the trial helped transform Depp into a countercultural hero for certain people, noting that backlash against male celebrities accused of abuse has frequently been temporary.