Fez — Johnny Depp could be preparing to sail again as Captain Jack Sparrow, nearly a decade after his last appearance in Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
During D23 Disney fan event, longtime franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that discussions are now taking place with Depp over a sixth “Pirates” movie.
“We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done,” Bruckheimer said.
The update is significant because Depp’s involvement is no longer simply something Bruckheimer says he would like to see. The producer is now publicly confirming active conversations while a screenplay is being developed.
However, Depp’s return has not yet been finalized, and Disney has not officially announced him as part of the cast.
A return that once looked impossible
Depp first staggered onto screens as Jack Sparrow in 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” creating a character that quickly became inseparable from the franchise.
The first movie earned more than $650 million (MAD 6.05 billion) worldwide and was followed by four sequels between 2006 and 2017.
Together, the five films have generated more than $4.5 billion (MAD 41.9 billion) globally.
Depp last played Sparrow in 2017’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which earned nearly $800 million (MAD 7.44 billion) worldwide. Disney’s official description at the time called Sparrow the franchise’s “iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero.”
For years afterward, another Depp-led adventure appeared unlikely.
During his 2022 defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp testified that he felt betrayed by Disney and agreed that he would not return as Jack Sparrow even for “$300 million” ( MAD 2.79 billion) “and a million alpacas.”
The relationship has gradually appeared to soften.
In August 2025, Bruckheimer said he had spoken with Depp and believed the actor would consider returning if he liked how the character was written. At the time, the producer stressed that everything depended on getting the screenplay right.
What would the new ‘Pirates’ look like?
The exact shape of the next movie remains unclear.
Bruckheimer previously described one project as a reboot rather than a straightforward continuation of the previous five films. Disney has spent years considering different approaches to reviving the franchise.
Current reporting suggests Depp could return without necessarily carrying the entire movie as its central character, although Disney has not confirmed his role, the wider cast, a director, or a release date.
For a franchise that has spent almost a decade stuck between a limbo state of reboot plans and nostalgia for its original cast, the new talks mark a notable change.
Jack Sparrow’s return is still only a possibility, but for the first time in years, Depp and the people steering “Pirates of the Caribbean” appear to be discussing how to make it happen.
