Johnny Depp and his former business managers, The Management Group's Joel and Robert Mandel, are currently embroiled in an ugly dispute. When business relationships go sour, allegations are bound to fly, and this case is no different. Depp originally sued The Management Group in January, alleging negligence and fraud, and they've returned the favor with a countersuit.
One of the allegations from the Mandels' recently amended complaint is particularly intriguing. According to The Hollywood Reporter, they claim that Depp hired someone to feed him lines on set. Their attorney wrote that the actor "insisted that this sound engineer be kept on yearly retainer so that he no longer had to memorize his lines."
FASCINATING.
Obviously, we haven't seen any evidence of this and have no idea if it's true, but can you imagine? Isn't it an actor's job to, um, learn lines? Well, surprise! I guess it's actually the responsibility of the "sound engineer." That truly would be an excellent job if it were real.
But just say it was true. Would this have happened on Depp's forthcoming blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales? If so, did this sound engineer ever want to cheekily feed Johnny Depp the wrong lines? Instead of what's on the script, for example, perhaps they could have read out some soundbites from his infamous dog apology video, or some anonymous YouTube comments about the Pirates trailer. Pretty mean, right? I for sure would have done that (and been fired).
Luckily, I'm no "sound engineer." But here are some ways it could have gone down, if I were:
Dialogue from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: The dead have taken command of the sea.
Johnny Depp: Australians are just as unique, both warm and direct. When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly.
Pirates: Dead men tell no tales.
Johnny Depp: Declare everything when you enter Australia. Thanks.
Pirates: Pirates had infected the seas for generations.
Depp: I forgot to tell you all, they're dead.
Pirates: Jack Sparrow cursed me.
Depp: I really would like to apologize for not smuggling my dogs into England, because it would have been a bad thing to do.
Pirates: I will have my revenge.
Pirates: Are you sure you're the Jack Sparrow?
Pirates: Where's your pants?
Pirates: Are all pirates this stupid?
Depp: I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative, one that I have never asked to be a part of.
