Sharon Osbourne Regrets Stopping Ozzy From Auditioning for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean'
Ozzy Osbourne was once invited to audition for a role in Pirates of the Caribbean—but the opportunity was shut down by his longtime manager and wife, Sharon Osbourne.
During a recent appearance on Billy Corgan's The Magnificent Others podcast, Sharon revealed what she considers the 'biggest mistake' she ever made on the legendary Black Sabbath frontman's behalf. 'He got offered to go and read for Pirates of the Caribbean, and I've never said this to anyone,' she admitted to the Smashing Pumpkins frontman. 'And I said no. Now wouldn't he have been perfect?'
More from Billboard
The Wombats Recall 'Pretty Freaky' Incident in Rio de Janeiro
Green Day Are Seeking 'Punks, Emo, Hardcore & Alt People' for New Film
Blink-182's Mark Hoppus Announces Tour for New Memoir, 'Fahrenheit-182'
Corgan immediately agreed, responding, 'He would have been perfect! Maybe it's not too late, but God bless.'
While it remains unclear which character Ozzy was being considered for, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has a history of casting rock legends. The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards famously played Captain Teague, the father of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow, in At World's End (2007) and On Stranger Tides (2011).
Paul McCartney also made an appearance in Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) as Jack Sparrow's uncle, Uncle Jack. Given Ozzy's unmistakable persona and theatrical stage presence, it's easy to imagine him fitting right into the swashbuckling world of the blockbuster franchise.
Beyond his near brush with Hollywood, Ozzy has remained active in music despite ongoing health struggles. In recent years, he released Patient Number 9 (2022), which earned a Grammy for Best Rock Album, and announced his retirement from touring due to health concerns. Meanwhile, Black Sabbath's final reunion show is set to take place on July 5 in Birmingham, featuring appearances from Guns N' Roses, Tool, and even actor Jason Momoa.
While Ozzy never got his shot at the high seas, his legacy as the Prince of Darkness remains untouchable—onstage and, perhaps, in an alternate timeline, on the big screen.
Best of Billboard
Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1
Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits
H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Johnny Depp doesn't regret Amber Heard trial: 'It had gone far enough'
To some, Johnny Depp's headline-making defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard was a stain on his gleaming Hollywood career. But despite the legal drama, Depp wouldn't change a thing. The Oscar-nominated actor reflected on the 2022 court battle in an interview with The Sunday Times published June 21. "Look, none of this was going (to) be easy, but I didn't care," he told the British outlet. "I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter (expletive) end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before." Depp sued Heard in 2019, claiming she defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she said she was a victim of domestic abuse without specifically naming him. Heard was granted a temporary restraining order against the actor in May 2016, just days after filing for divorce, alleging Depp physically abused her various times during their 15-month marriage. As for their trial, a Virginia jury in 2022 awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages following six weeks of widely watched testimony, during which both parties and witnesses testified about alleged abuse throughout the couple's tumultuous relationship. "Look, it had gone far enough," Depp, 62, continued. "If I don't try to represent the truth it will be like I've actually committed the acts I am accused of. And my kids will have to live with it. Their kids. Kids that I've met in hospitals. So the night before the trial in Virginia I didn't feel nervous. If you don't have to memorize lines, if you're just speaking the truth? Roll the dice." 'A soap opera': Johnny Depp shades Amber Heard defamation trial Heard won $2 million in damages from her countersuit over Depp's lawyer calling her claims a hoax. In December 2022, the former couple agreed to a settlement in the defamation case, with Heard paying Depp $1 million that he pledged to charity. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" alum also reflected on the professional fallout from the trial, including testimony from his former agent Tracey Jacobs. According to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, Jacobs testified that Depp's industry status was being increasingly undermined by his "unprofessional" on-set behavior, which allegedly included frequent tardiness. "There are people, and I'm thinking of three, who did me dirty. Those people were at my kids' parties. Throwing them in the air," Depp said. "And, look, I understand people who could not stand up (for me) because the most frightening thing to them was making the right choice. I was pre-MeToo. I was like a crash test dummy for MeToo. It was before Harvey Weinstein." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé The legal troubles of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was indicted in May 2018 on charges of five sex crimes, are widely regarded as the tipping point for the #MeToo movement's impact on Hollywood. Weinstein was convicted on June 11 of a first-degree criminal sexual act in the retrial of his 2020 conviction on sexual assault and rape charges. Following the conclusion of his trial with Heard, Depp resumed his entertainment career with a starring role in 2023's "Jeanne du Barry," and directed the 2024 period drama "Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness." "Honestly? I didn't go anywhere," said Depp of his showbiz reemergence. "If I actually had the chance to split, I would never come back." Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Andrea Mandell and Maria Puente, USA TODAY

USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Johnny Depp doesn't regret Amber Heard trial, calls himself a 'crash test dummy for MeToo'
To some, Johnny Depp's headline-making defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard was a stain on his gleaming Hollywood career. But despite the legal drama, Depp wouldn't change a thing. The Oscar-nominated actor reflected on the 2022 court battle in an interview with The Sunday Times published June 21. "Look, none of this was going (to) be easy, but I didn't care," he told the British outlet. "I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter (expletive) end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before." Depp sued Heard in 2019, claiming she defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she said she was a victim of domestic abuse without specifically naming him. A Virginia jury in 2022 awarded him more than $10 million in damages following six weeks of widely watched testimony, during which both parties and witnesses testified about alleged abuse throughout their 15-month marriage. 'A soap opera': Johnny Depp shades Amber Heard defamation trial "Look, it had gone far enough," Depp, 62, continued. "If I don't try to represent the truth it will be like I've actually committed the acts I am accused of. And my kids will have to live with it. Their kids. Kids that I've met in hospitals. So the night before the trial in Virginia I didn't feel nervous. If you don't have to memories lines, if you're just speaking the truth? Roll the dice." Heard won $2 million in damages from her countersuit over Depp's lawyer calling her claims a hoax. In December 2022, the former couple agreed to a settlement in the defamation case, with Heard paying Depp $1 million that he pledged to charity. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" alum also reflected on the professional fallout from the trial, including testimony from his former agent Tracey Jacobs. According to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, Jacobs testified that Depp's industry status was being increasingly undermined by his "unprofessional" on-set behavior, which allegedly included frequent tardiness. "There are people, and I'm thinking of three, who did me dirty. Those people were at my kids' parties. Throwing them in the air," Depp said. "And, look, I understand people who could not stand up (for me) because the most frightening thing to them was making the right choice. I was pre-MeToo. I was like a crash test dummy for MeToo. It was before Harvey Weinstein." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé The legal troubles of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was indicted in May 2018 on charges of five sex crimes, are widely regarded as the tipping point for the #MeToo movement's impact on Hollywood. Weinstein was convicted on June 11 of a first-degree criminal sexual act in the retrial of his 2020 conviction on sexual assault and rape charges. Following the conclusion of his trial with Heard, Depp resumed his entertainment career with a starring role in 2023's "Jeanne du Barry," and directed the 2024 period drama "Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness." "Honestly? I didn't go anywhere," said Depp of his showbiz reemergence. "If I actually had the chance to split, I would never come back." Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Johnny Depp Says He Has 'No Regrets' About Amber Heard Trial & Was A 'Crash Test Dummy For #MeToo'
In a sprawling interview with The Times U.K., Johnny Depp claimed he was a 'crash test dummy for #MeToo,' reflecting on his protracted legal battle with actress and ex-wife Amber Heard. 'My comeback? Honestly? I didn't go anywhere,' he said. 'If I had the chance to split I would never come back.' More from Deadline Sick Juror Throws Sean Combs Trial Off Tight Schedule; No Decision Yet If Diddy Will Testify Tyler Perry Slams $260M Sexual Assault Suit By 'The Oval' Actor As A "Scam" Another Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial Could Start This Fall, Judge Says; Current Case Ends In Mistrial As Jury Foreman Won't Return To Deliberations - Update The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who classified his ousting from Hollywood as a 'boycott,' praised the San Sebastián International Film Festival for sticking with him through 'all the hit pieces, the bullsh–.' In 2021, the fest awarded him the prestigious Donostia, its highest accolade, and last year, his second directorial effort, Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, garnered a long-standing ovation by the crowd. 'No, I have no regrets about anything — because, truly, what can we do about last week's dinner? Not a f—ing thing,' he said of the much-publicized court trial with Heard. In 2022, Depp and Heard engaged in a contentious court battle during which a jury unanimously found he was defamed. After Heard filed an appeal of the verdict, the two announced separately that the case had been settled with the money paid by Heard going to charity. The case stemmed from a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which Heard said she was a survivor of domestic violence without mentioning Depp's name. Throughout the media circus that ensued during the live-streamed trial, Heard — who wields considerably less power as a woman who is not as well-known nor cherished as veteran Depp — was largely raked over the coals both online and by Depp's fans who lined the doors outside the courtroom, receiving death threats. Studies conducted by a research firm also indicated the overwhelming hatred she experienced on social media was not entirely human-generated. The Virginia battle also followed a separate libel case in the U.K. over The Sun's calling Depp a 'wife beater.' The judge sided with the publication in 2020, after which Depp was asked to resign from Warner Bros.' Fantastic Beasts franchise, with the judge finding that the 'great majority of alleged assaults of Ms. Heard by Mr. Depp have been proved.' When asked why he pursued the public trial in the U.S., Depp answered: 'Look, it had gone far enough. I knew I'd have to semi-eviscerate myself. Everyone was saying, 'It'll go away!' But I can't trust that. What will go away? The fiction pawned around the f—ing globe? No it won't. If I don't try to represent the truth it will be like I've actually committed the acts I am accused of. And my kids will have to live with it. Their kids. Kids that I've met in hospitals. So the night before the trial in Virginia I didn't feel nervous. If I don't have to memorize lines, if you're just speaking the truth? Roll the dice.' He continued, 'Look, none of this was going to be easy, but I didn't care. I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter f—ing end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before.' Depp also claimed his experience predated #MeToo, and that's why people failed to support him. However, activist Tarana Burke's hashtag and movement were founded in 2006, later moving to the entertainment industry space circa 2017, the same year the New York Times and The New Yorker published exposés on now-disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein. 'I'll tell you what hurts. There are people, and I'm thinking of three, who did me dirty. Those people were at my kids' parties. Throwing them in the air. And, look, I understand people who could not stand up [for me] because the most frightening thing to them was making the right choice,' he said. 'I was pre-#MeToo. I was like a crash test dummy for #MeToo. It was before Harvey Weinstein. And I sponged it, took it all in. And so I wanted from the hundreds of people I've met in that industry to see who was playing it safe. Better go woke!' Since 2022, the actor hasn't really gone gently into that good night — hence the disagreement with the term 'comeback.' That year, he made a surprise appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards; later on, he embarked on a 2023 European tour with band Hollywood Vampires and was seen in Savage X Fenty's fashion show. More recently, he is set to reunite with Pirates of the Caribbean co-star Penelope Cruz in Lionsgate's upcoming Day Drinker, also featuring Madelyn Cline. Additionally, filming for Terry Gilliam's Carnival: At the End of Days, opposite Adam Driver, Jeff Bridges and Jason Momoa was scheduled to commence in April. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg