Ahoy, there may be one more voyage for Captain Jack Sparrow. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed at D23 that he is in talks with Johnny Depp about returning for “Pirates of the Caribbean 6.”
“We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done,” Bruckheimer told Deadline at the Disney fan event on Saturday.
“We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done.” — Jerry Bruckheimer
A Franchise Shifting Its Sails
Separate from Bruckheimer, solid sources tell Deadline the continuation won’t be just the nth tale of Captain Jack Sparrow. Instead, the next chapter is expected to center on Margot Robbie’s character, with Sparrow appearing as a side character — an evolution of the franchise rather than a straightforward sequel.
It would be a notable return for Depp, who spent years as the face of one of Disney’s most lucrative live-action franchises. The last entry, 2017’s “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” was the lowest-grossing in the series with $795.9 million worldwide, yet the five movies together have minted $4.5 billion at the global box office.
Why It Matters
For a franchise that seemed to have sailed its last voyage, the prospect of Jack Sparrow returning — even in a supporting role — is exactly the kind of nostalgia-driven news Disney knows fans respond to. With Disney reportedly poised for a huge 2028, anchoring a revamped “Pirates” around Robbie while keeping Depp’s beloved character in orbit could give the series its best shot at rekindling the box-office magic. Nothing is signed yet, but the compass is finally pointing back to the open sea.
