A Hollywood Reporter analysis piece by Winston Cho basically says that Johnny Depp, despite his triumphant court victory over Amber Heard, is out of the mainstream Hollywood game now.
He can become an indie-realm star like Mel Gibson and perhaps earn $15 million a year, the piece says, but the golden Captain Jack days are over.
Depp was on the downslope before the Heard troubles began anyway. By my yardstick he began to be seen as a seen-better-days guy six or seven years ago. Every big movie star downshifts sooner or later. Depp was at the top for roughly 22 years, starting in ’90 and then starting to downshift in ’12 or thereabouts. (Tom Cruise is roughly Depp’s age, yes, but he’s an exception to the rule.) There’s nothing wrong with being an indie hotshot. He’ll be fine as long as he lives moderately and, you know, watches the intake.
