Johnny Depp said he is open to returning as Captain Jack Sparrow for a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, but only if the story sends the franchise off on a better note.
If things are exactly where they need to be with regard to how they are going to top off the 'Pirates' franchise… the only involvement I really want to have, truly, is just to send them off on a better note.
The five Pirates of the Caribbean films earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide. Depp made his debut as Captain Jack Sparrow in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Four sequels followed: the second, third, fourth and fifth films.
During his defamation trial, Depp said he would never return to the franchise and that Disney had dropped him from the films. He swore off a comeback in 2023. Since then, this is the first time he’s publicly said he’s open to the idea.
I will go to work with [Jerry] Bruckheimer tomorrow for anything. Doesn't matter… if it's Jerry, i trust him. We have a deep friendship.
Screenplay in final stages
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and writer Jeff Nathanson are working on a screenplay. Nathanson also wrote Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Bruckheimer said the team wants to make the film and is close to finishing it, though the screenplay isn’t quite complete.
If he likes the way the part's written, I think he would do it. It's all about what's on the page, as we all know… We are still working on a screenplay. We want to make it. We just got to get the right screenplay. We haven't quite gotten there yet, but we're close.
Nathanson has made significant progress on the screenplay, particularly its conclusion. Bruckheimer said he cracked the third act and wrote an amazing one, leaving the team to clean up the first and second acts.
He's cracked it. He's got an amazing third act. We just gotta clean up the first and second and then we'll get there. But he wrote a great, great third act.
Why Depp is irreplaceable
The next film is a reboot, Bruckheimer said, but if it were up to him, Depp would be in it. He called Depp a good friend and an amazing artist who created Captain Jack through his unique interpretation.
It's a reboot, but if it was up to me, [Johnny] would be in it. I love him. He's a good friend. He's an amazing artist and he's a unique look. He created Captain Jack. That was not on the page, that was him doing a little Pepé Le Pew and Keith Richards. That was his interpretation of Jack Sparrow.
Competing visions for the franchise
A Margot Robbie-led version of the franchise is also in development. Disney hasn’t confirmed Johnny Depp's involvement or set a release date for Pirates of the Caribbean 6.
Cast reactions divided
Gore Verbinski, who directed the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, said in January that he doesn’t plan to return to the saga. Knowing how to do something makes it less interesting or less dangerous.
Orlando Bloom, 49, who portrayed Will Turner in the original trilogy, recently hinted that a reunion could happen. Bloom told Deadline in October 2025 that people are really responding to nostalgia at the moment.
Keira Knightley, 41, who portrayed Will's lover Elizabeth Swann, has ruled out returning. She told People in September 2025 that her pirating days are over and her swashbuckling days are done.
Depp's career since legal battles
Depp has had few blockbuster roles since his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. His libel case against UK outlet The Sun led to him leaving the Fantastic Beasts films. Mads Mikkelsen took over the role in the third film, which was also the last.
Depp is promoting Ebenezer, a film set for release on November 13 that also features Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint and Andrea Riseborough, among others.
What we know
- Depp is open to returning if the story ends the franchise on a better note.
- Bruckheimer and writer Jeff Nathanson are developing a screenplay with the third act complete.
- The five existing Pirates films earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide.
Still unclear
- Whether Disney will officially confirm Depp's return to the franchise.
- Whether a release date for Pirates 6 will be announced.
- Whether Depp will ultimately sign on once the screenplay is complete.
- Whether the next film will focus on Depp's character or on a new lead played by Margot Robbie.
