Jenna Ortega, the 20-year-old star of "Wednesday," has taken to Instagram to debunk rumors surrounding her alleged romantic involvement with Johnny Depp, the 60-year-old actor. These speculations arose after a gossip account, DeuxMoi, reported their supposed sighting together, along with the possibility of them collaborating on "Beetlejuice 2," according to NME.
Ortega quickly set the record straight, expressing her disbelief at the rumors through her Instagram Story. She clarified that she has never met or worked with Johnny Depp and implored people to stop spreading falsehoods and respect their privacy.
In response to the baseless rumors, a representative for Johnny Depp released a statement reaffirming that he has no personal or professional relationship with Jenna Ortega. They emphasized that he has neither met nor communicated with her and has no plans to collaborate on any project with her. The representative also expressed Depp's dismay at these unfounded and malicious rumors, which aim to tarnish his reputation and career.
Last year, in June, rumors circulated, though unconfirmed, that Johnny Depp might be joining the cast of "Beetlejuice 2," sparking excitement among fans. This speculation followed the conclusion of his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, in which he was awarded $15 million in damages.
Production for "Beetlejuice 2" officially commenced in London in May, with Winona Ryder reprising her role as Lydia Deetz and Jenna Ortega portraying her daughter. Michael Keaton is also returning as Beetlejuice, with additional cast members including Filipe Cates and Justin Theroux, though Theroux's role remains undisclosed.
Jenna Ortega was spotted filming wedding scenes with Cates in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in early July. Notably, Ryder sported the same iconic spiked black fringe from the original film.
Despite the exciting project, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike temporarily halted television and film productions in Hollywood.
"Beetlejuice 2" is scheduled for release on September 6, 2024, exactly 36 years after the original Tim Burton film premiered in 1988.
Jenna Ortega, renowned for her role as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series "Wednesday," directed by Tim Burton, recently celebrated the show receiving 12 Emmy nominations. She expressed her gratitude for the recognition while also addressing the challenges of social media, highlighting the pressures it places on young individuals and the importance of remaining authentic.
In her Variety's Actors On Actors interview with Elle Fanning, Jenna shared her experiences with social media, acknowledging its pitfalls and the temptation to present an idealized version of oneself. She emphasized the need to humanize celebrities and cautioned against putting them on pedestals. Jenna also admitted that she sometimes finds herself in trouble due to her sense of humor on social platforms. She concluded that, despite the manipulative nature of social media, she strives to be authentic and true to herself, rather than succumbing to the pressures of comparison and conformity.
