August 13, 2025, 1:33 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
For years, fans have been wondering if Johnny Depp could return as Captain Jack Sparrow for “Pirates of the Caribbean 6.” Much has been speculated, and the rumor mill continues to churn. But now there’s a new update in this story that sounds promising.
And this time, it’s not a supposed leak from a dubious source. Quite the opposite: none other than Hollywood super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed in an interview with “Entertainment Weekly” that he has spoken with Johnny Depp about “Pirates of the Caribbean 6.”
Johnny Depp Open to “Pirates of the Caribbean 6” Return
Bruckheimer has produced numerous massive blockbusters, including all previous “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. So if anyone knows about the behind-the-scenes processes, it’s him. According to his statements, Johnny Depp is indeed open to returning as Captain Jack Sparrow for “Pirates of the Caribbean 6.”
It would mainly depend on the script and how the iconic role is handled. “If he likes how the part is written, I think he would do it,” Bruckheimer explained. It’s all about what’s on paper, as you know. Regarding the current status of the script, he said they are still working on it but are “close” to finishing it.
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The path to another installment of the popular pirate saga is long and will take years. Since 2020, there have been plans to tackle two new films: a spinoff with a female lead and a reboot. Although “Barbie” star Margot Robbie was temporarily considered for the former project, it recently seemed unlikely to progress.
For the new version, Bruckheimer still wants Depp back. “I love him, he’s a close friend.” After all, he created Jack Sparrow himself. The character, as many fans know and love, wasn’t even in the script.
Depp Hasn’t Been Active in Hollywood for a While
Whether Johnny Depp will actually be in front of the camera for “Pirates of the Caribbean 6” remains to be seen. His last major Hollywood film was “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” in 2018. In the middle of filming the sequel, Warner Bros. asked him to leave the project.
At the time, headlines circulated alleging that Depp subjected his then-wife, Amber Heard, to domestic violence. In 2022, a court case between the two ended significantly in Depp’s favor. Since then, he has been trying to regain his footing with new films.
It’s Time for Depp’s Rehabilitation in Hollywood
“I may not be a die-hard ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ fan. But you would have had to live deep underground in a nuclear bunker not to have noticed the immense impact Depp had as Jack Sparrow in the early 2000s, capturing the hearts of moviegoers and the pop culture of the time. Calling his performance iconic is at least accurate, if not an understatement.
A return of Depp in the famous role would not only bring joy to many fans worldwide. It would also be a happy ending to an unseemly story that brought down the once megastar and turned him into an underdog. And where else are rise-and-success stories celebrated more than in the dream factory?
Hollywood itself didn’t exactly cover itself in glory with his dismissal from ‘Fantastic Beasts.’ It’s somewhat understandable, as no one wants to risk valuable dollars due to bad press. At the same time, there was a tendency to make hasty decisions, only to backtrack later.
Showing stance and backbone is more of a PR exercise for large corporations, like film studios, than a matter of principle. In the end, it’s all about money—and the paying audience. And when faced with the prospect of that audience spending their hard-earned money elsewhere, every corporation eventually gives in.
Remember ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ creator James Gunn. When years-old controversial tweets surfaced, Disney quickly fired him, and he was not supposed to direct the third installment. Less than a year later, they brought him back. Gunn had some prominent supporters, but the loudest voices were the fans.
And fans have wanted Johnny Depp to reprise Jack Sparrow for years. The time is ripe. Depp is interested, and Disney, responsible for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ can take a cue from their own James Gunn story and show some grace. In the end, everyone might win—Depp, Disney, and film fans.”