Johnny Depp, increasingly closer to returning as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6

Johnny Depp could put on the hat and braids of Captain Jack Sparrow again in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. What seemed impossible a few years ago is starting to take shape thanks to the efforts of Jerry Bruckheimer, the saga's longtime producer.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bruckheimer revealed that he has already spoken with Depp about his return. According to him, the key will be a script that manages to captivate him: "If he likes how the character is written, I think he'd do it. It all comes down to what's written on the page."

Conversations, scripts, and conditions

The producer admitted that they are still working to reach the final version of the story and that they haven't reached the perfect point yet, although they are close. He also recalled that the new film is being considered as a reboot, but that, if it were up to him, Depp would be included: "I want him. He's an unbelievable artist... He created Captain Jack. That wasn't in the script; it was him doing a bit of Pepé Le Pew and Keith Richards."

The bond between the actor and Disney was broken in 2018, after the accusations of domestic violence by Amber Heard. During the defamation trial in 2022, Depp stated that he wouldn't return "not even for 300 million dollars and a million alpacas." However, the progress of the negotiations suggests that the positions may have changed.

The saga and the possible cast reunion

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has five films: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), At World's End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). In addition, in 2011 the short film Tales of the Code: Wedlocked was released.

Since 2019, the development of the sixth installment has been progressing slowly. There are two versions of the script: one that includes Jack Sparrow and another that proposes a reboot with new protagonists. Jeff Nathanson may have already completed a third act that Bruckheimer described as "unbelievable." Among the writers are also Craig Mazin (The Last of Us) and Ted Elliott.

Orlando Bloom, remembered for his role as Will Turner, confirmed that there were talks to reunite him with Depp and Keira Knightley. "I think it'd be great to get the band back together," he commented. Still, the producer clarified that not all the actors will be new, but that fans will have to find out who returns.

Depp led the previous five films, which together grossed more than 4.5 billion dollars. Dead Man's Chest and On Stranger Tides each surpassed 1 billion. The last installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, was the least acclaimed and the second lowest-grossing.

The actor's return as Jack Sparrow no longer seems like a pipe dream. With Bruckheimer's support and a convincing script, Johnny Depp could once again sail the seas in one of Disney's most successful sagas.