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played by the incomparable and uber-talented is perhaps one of the most recognizable characters from a Disney experience and film franchise outside of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and he’s only been around for about 20 years.
is the star of The Pirates of the at and the Resort, but he wasn’t always a part of the . Neither the Disneyland version nor the version of the featured the “savvy” when they first debuted in March 1967 and December 1973, respectively.
The Pirates of the in Adventureland was the first Disney to ever inspire a film franchise. Inside the Wonderful World of Disney, it’s usually the other way around: a film is released, fans go wild, an is created at a . (So, where is our Encanto ?)
On July 7, 2006, the second film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest debuted at the box office, and exceptionally life-like animatronic Sparrows debuted at Disneyland and .
Credit: Disney
But the is a first for other reasons as well, unfortunately. To date, Disney Parks has yet to host an other than Pirates of the Caribbean in which the actor portrayed on the was canceled by The Company (and might this writer add, canceled prematurely).
Oddly enough, though Disney has reportedly scrapped plans to keep on as in any future installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, the House of Mouse has not pulled Depp’s likeness from its Disney Parks attractions, and merchandise inspired by the films continued to roll off the shelves, as if on a conveyor belt.
Credit: NBC
“[Disney] didn’t remove my character from the rides,” Depp said. “They didn’t stop selling dolls of . They didn’t stop selling anything. They just didn’t want there to be something trailing behind me that they’d find.”
During his testimony, said that The Company parted ways with him in 2018, shortly after Amber Heard’s allegations of abuse.
Credit: WJLA
“Two years had gone by of constant worldwide talk about me being this wife-beater,” Depp said from the stand. “So I’m sure that Disney was trying to cut ties to be safe. The #MeToo movement was in full swing at that point.”
Depp’s likeness as remains a part of the Pirates of the at Disney Parks, and at this time, there’s been no mention of extracting the animatronic /Captain Jacks from the rides.
Depp has recently spoken publicly about the fallout of cancel culture, gleaning from his own personal experience. But isn’t the only character from the Pirates of the that has faced cancel culture.
Per Disney Fandom, the original Pirates of the at “was originally conceived as a wax museum and a walk-through adventure. But following the success of ‘s Carousel of Progress at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and his team of Imagineers decided that audio-animatronics, his latest animation technology, was the most imaginative way to tell a rousing story.”
Credit: PopSugar
When the opened at Walt Disney World in December 1973, it did so with a myriad of scurvy pirates singing “ Ho,” just like they do today. But Disney forced one of the original swashbuckling buccaneers to walk the plank after only two years on the ship.
His name was Peg Leg Pete, and he walked the plank in 1975.
Before you disembark on Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom, take a look behind the unload Cast Member for a small alcove. This was the original location of Peg Leg Pete, before he was moved sometime around 1975!
Huge thanks to @skywalkercoleb for sending this my way!! pic.twitter.com/fAuHfvvcEZ
— Remnants of Forgotten Disney (@DisneyRemnants) May 4, 2022
No word on how he earned his peg leg or why Disney removed him from the .
Credit: Twitter
And though we’re sorry the pirate birdy was forced off the plank, we are grateful that remains in the Pirates of the , and we are very hopeful that his likeness will remain!
