Johnny Depp reprised his famous Captain Jack Sparrow role in order to put a smile on children’s faces on Thursday.
The actor, 61, played the protagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and thrilled youngsters at the Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastián as he got back in character to pay them a visit.
In a statement by Osakidetza-Basque Health Service, they revealed the Hollywood legend brought joy to the hospital as he ‘chatted, played and laughed with the children’.
Johnny – who has been promoting his directorial effort Modi at San Sebastian Film Festival – is also said to have stayed in character the whole time so as not to ruin the illusion.
Sweet images on the ward showed Johnny happily posing for pictures with the children and cradling the babies on the Pediatrics and Oncology ward.
Johnny Depp thrilled youngsters at the Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastián on Thursday as he got back in character as Captain Jack Sparrow
In a statement by Osakidetza-Basque Health Service, they revealed the Hollywood legend brought joy to the hospital as he ‘chatted, played and laughed with the children’
The actor, 61, played the protagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series (pictured with Orlando Bloom in 2003’s The Curse of the Black Pearl)
The statement continued: ‘They have shared laughs and anecdotes, and he has helped them forget for a few minutes the difficulties they are going through at the moment.
‘It was a gift that brought joy to patients, families, nursing professionals, doctors and all the staff who were working on the ward at the time.
‘From Osakidetza, and especially from all the staff at the Donostia University Hospital, we would like to express our infinite gratitude to Johnny Depp for his time, his support and his energy, he has been a breath of fresh air for the entire ward.’
It’s not the first time Johnny has used his Disney character to spread joy.
In 2022 he dressed up as Captain Sparrow to send a sweet message of support to a fan amid his battle with a terminal heart condition.
The actor surprised YouTuber Kori, 13, with a video message and a phone call as Captain Jack Sparrow, telling him: ‘I wish you the best of luck, I’m your number one fan Captain Kori, all my respect and love.’
Kori has reportedly had two heart transplants and is in palliative care but wants to gain as many subscribers as possible while he can, which Johnny helped him with.
His decision to get back in character comes after he was welcomed back to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Johnny is also said to have stayed in character the whole time so as not to ruin the illusion
Sweet images on the ward showed Johnny happily posing for pictures with the children and cradling the babies on the Pediatrics and Oncology ward
A statement read: ‘They have shared laughs and anecdotes, and he has helped them forget for a few minutes the difficulties they are going through at the moment’
It continued: ‘It was a gift that brought joy to patients, families, nursing professionals, doctors and all the staff who were working on the ward at the time’
Screenwriter and producer of the swashbuckling franchise Terry Rossio told DailyMail.com in July that now Johnny has cleaned up his act he would be welcomed back with open arms.
In an exclusive interview, Terry said he ‘wouldn’t even hesitate’ to have Johnny back on set, despite the allegations of abuse and alcoholism against the actor.
Terry, 63, said casting the controversial Hollywood star is ‘not the problem’ for a sequel – it is finding the right script, co-stars and finances to revive the Disney-owned franchise, which has grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide.
Speaking exclusively on camera at the premiere of his new film Protocol 7, Terry said of the actor: ‘Johnny is beloved. I wouldn’t even hesitate on Johnny Depp.’
‘Johnny Depp isn’t the issue. The issue is: is there a story worthy? Is the script good? Can it be directed well? Can the finances of it be worked out? Those are the issues. The issue has nothing to do with Johnny.’
Terry, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Shrek, added that Disney should not just look at Johnny returning, but attempt to bring back the main cast from the original Oscar-nominated debut Pirates movie Dead Man’s Chest.
Asked how far Disney bosses have gotten in their revival plans, Rossio pleaded ignorance, saying: ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t have any inside information. I’m sorry, I can’t say.’
But he then noted that other factors are likely to be holding up the reboot, and that sometimes it can take over a decade even for desired movies to be made.
‘The Indiana Jones movie, for example, was like this,’ he said. ‘Everybody wanted it, but it took what, 15, 16 years for it to come about.
‘There are a lot of forces that come into play in terms of… schedule, availability, finances, creative control, the disposition of the studio, the planets have to align on any movie. It’s a miracle that anything ever gets done.’
They concluded: ‘From Osakidetza, and especially from all the staff at the Donostia University Hospital, we would like to express our infinite gratitude to Johnny Depp for his time’
Johnny delighted not just the children but their family members during the trip
In 2022 he dressed up as Captain Sparrow to send a sweet message of support to a fan amid his battle with a terminal heart condition
The actor famously told how Disney dropped him from the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film after Amber Heard accused him of being a wife beater (pictured in 2014)
Last year franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer spoke of his hope to have Johnny back as Sparrow, but never confirmed Disney were on board.
Terry’s comments will delight fans given many had petitioned for him to come back after winning his libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
The actor famously told the trial under questioning from his own lawyer, that Disney dropped him from the sixth film after Amber accused him of being a wife beater.
But a Virginia jury found that Johnny proved elements of defamation for Amber’s statements in her 2018 Washing Post op-ed. They decided Amber’s statements were false, and that she defamed Johnny with actual malice.
The Jack Sparrow actor enjoyed a five minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival for his 2023 film, Jeanne du Barry, in which he stars as the former King of France Louis XV.
