Johnny Depp Rumored To Be Joining The Cast Of 'Beetlejuice 2' With Ex Winona Ryder

In the wake of the Johnny Depp - Amber Heard defamation trial, which is coming to a close soon, there have been rumors about Depp's new casting.

There are talks that Depp has been cast opposite his ex, Winnona Ryder, in the Beetlejuice sequel. The rumors are not exactly new but have resurfaced again after fans discovered that the 58-year-old's name appeared on the cast list of the film. The buzz of his casting was first reported by Giant Freakin Robot nearly two years ago. 

"Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have a longstanding and (mostly) successful relationship when it comes to movies," the site stated. "This shared history might be one reason the director is willing to consider Depp in an upcoming film in spite of the latter’s recent woes. Through the years they’ve worked together on a total of eight films." Burton came out with Beetlejuice in 1988 which was two years before his collaboration with Depp started with Edward Scissorhands. Following this, they have also worked on Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows.

Now, a few fans discovered that the Google listing for Beetlejuice 2 lists Depp alongside Michael Keaton and Ryder, the original actors of the film. The comedy horror film follows a deceased couple Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) who are unsuccessful in scaring away the Deetz family, Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones) and Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara), and Lydia Deetz (Ryder), who has moved into their old home. They recruit the help of a malicious spirit and bio-exorcist, Beetlejuice or Betelgeuse (Keaton) to help them. Considering Depp and Burton's longstanding relationship, many people would not be surprised if he was brought on board the sequel.

As for the high-profile defamation case, it has generated a lot of buzz. The trial was live-streamed online and the public was tuned into the whole process while forming their own opinions and letting it be known on social media. 

Depp sued his ex-wife for defamation after she published an op-ed in the Washington Post where she shared her experience of being a victim of domestic abuse. She had not mentioned Depp by name in the article. But the Pirates of the Caribbean actor claimed the article cost him his career and sued her for $50 million in damages. Heard has countersued for $100 million.

Following the abuse allegations, Depp was dropped from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as well as from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. But following the allegations, Depp has been onboarded a new film about King Louis while Heard lost the role she had in Aquaman 2. He had claimed that he was being “boycotted by Hollywood” and how it would impact the release of the biographical film Minamata.