Disney is gearing up to reboot its billion-dollar Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and updates have been shared regarding the faces audiences will be greeted with when they return to the high seas.
The Legacy of Pirates of the Caribbean
It’s been over 20 years since Johnny Depp first stepped into the boots of Captain Jack Sparrow, and after all this time, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise might not have seen the last of him.
The Oscar nominee made his unforgettable debut in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a surprise hit from Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer that quickly became a global juggernaut. Depp’s wildly unpredictable performance as Jack Sparrow—equal parts swagger, slur, and savvy—left a mark on audiences and critics alike, reshaping the modern movie pirate.
At the time, Disney executives were reportedly uneasy about his eccentric approach to the character, but any doubts quickly vanished. Jack Sparrow became the heart of a billion-dollar franchise—and a defining role for Depp.
Sequels followed in quick succession: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2010), and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Along the way, Depp’s Jack shared the spotlight with Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, adding layers of romance and legacy to the high-seas saga.
With each new entry, Depp’s star power grew, along with his paycheck. At one point among Hollywood’s top earners, the actor’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow became as essential to the franchise as the Black Pearl itself. Depp would earn a staggering $90 million for his role in the final entry, Dead Men Tell No Tales.
But off-screen controversy soon clouded the horizon.
Johnny Depp Exiled From Hollywood
Depp’s public legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard caused significant ripples in his career. It started with a 2020 libel case in the U.K., where Depp sued The Sun and News Group Newspapers LTD for branding him a “wife-beater.” The trial, filled with explosive allegations and testimony from both parties, ended in defeat for Depp. Justice Andrew Nicol found the claims were “substantially true.”
The public proceedings generated an immense response from Depp’s fanbase, with hashtags like #JusticeForJohnnyDepp and #FireAmberHeard trending on social media. The libel trial and the subsequent defamation trial took place during the production process of Heard’s DC Extended Universe movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), with Depp’s fans calling for her removal from the franchise.
The 2020 decision—and the 2021 denial of Depp’s appeal—led to swift consequences. Disney cut ties with him, and Warner Bros. recast his role in the Fantastic Beasts series, removing him as Gellert Grindelwald–Mads Mikkelsen took over the role for the third installment, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). The movie generated little box office receipts and a poor critical response, leading Warner Bros. to ditch the franchise in favor of a return to the original Harry Potter narrative.
In 2022, the defamation showdown in the U.S., sparked by Heard’s Washington Post op-ed referencing her experiences with domestic and sexual abuse, began. Depp filed a $50 million lawsuit; Heard countersued for $100 million. The trial unfolded over six weeks in Virginia, under the watch of Judge Penney Azcarate.
Ultimately, the jury ruled in Depp’s favor, granting him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, later reduced to $350,000. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages, but no punitive sum. The legal battle became a pop culture phenomenon, overshadowing both actors’ work. During cross-examination, Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn asked Depp if he’d ever consider returning to the Pirates films.
“The fact is, Mr. Depp, if Disney came to you with $300 million and a million alpacas, nothing on this earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a Pirates of the Caribbean film? Correct?” Rottenborn asked. Depp replied: “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”
Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow Return Imminent?
Still, time has a way of shifting perspectives. After the trial concluded, rumors began to swirl that Depp might be open to returning as Jack Sparrow. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 was in development, and he wasn’t shy about wanting Depp back in the lead role.
The franchise’s future remains uncertain. Disney hasn’t clarified what direction it plans to take, but Bruckheimer continues to champion Depp’s return as a potential path forward. Now, new comments continue to tease the return of a number of legacy characters.
In conversation with Screen Rant‘s Ash Crossan at the F1 (2025) premiere, Bruckheimer cryptically confirmed that the Pirates of the Caribbean 6 movie would not feature only new faces.
Jerry Bruckheimer: We’re working on a screenplay. Hopefully we’ll get it right–and then we’ll make it. We really want to make it, that’s for sure.
ScreenRant: A continuation or something new?
Bruckheimer: It’ll be a new take on it.
ScreenRant: New take, new actors?
Jerry Bruckheimer: Well, not all new actors. We’ll have some back.
ScreenRant: Okay…
Bruckheimer: I’m not going to tell you which ones–you’ll have to guess.
This is not the only recent information about the return of the old squad. Earlier this month, Will Turner actor Orlando Bloom spoke out about his hopes to see the high seas once again and addressed his potential involvement with future installments. Speaking on This Morning, the actor was candid—but cautious—about what might lie ahead.
“There’s been all kinds of things. Who knows? There’s been talk. I can’t say anything at the moment, because I really don’t know,” Bloom shared. “They’re definitely… I think they’re trying to work out what it would all look like. I, personally, think it would be great to get the band back together. That would be great. But there are always different ideas, so we’ll see where it lands.”
The Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise Charts Its Next Course
Two projects are reportedly in play: the sixth mainline entry and a standalone spinoff that would star Barbie actress Margot Robbie. Robbie once claimed her film was no longer moving ahead, but Bruckheimer has since indicated it’s still on the table, though Pirates 6 remains the priority.
Despite the shifting plans, Variety reported in late 2024 that “nothing has been ruled out” regarding Depp’s involvement, even if the sixth film becomes a soft reboot. In February 2025, speculation reignited after reports emerged that Disney had quietly prepped Pirates 6 for production on a Hollywood soundstage, with Depp potentially attached.
As Screen Rant recently examined, the combination of returning and new actors follows a Hollywood trend of so-called “legacy sequels.” That is, combining fan-favorite characters with a new cast, in a bid to launch the franchise into a different era. And The Walt Disney Company is no stranger to this. In 2015, Disney and Lucasfilm launched the first movie in their Star Wars sequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens, featuring a new young cast led by Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
However, it wasn’t just a squad of franchise newbies; Disney brought back the original trio of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), too. This combination acts as a way for old fans and new fans to engage with the movie, and it seems that Pirates of the Caribbean is heading in that direction.
Rehiring Depp Would Come at a Price
If Disney wants Depp back aboard, it’ll likely come with a hefty price tag. While the “$300 million and a million alpacas” line became infamous, Depp’s actual paychecks from previous entries reveal how much Disney has already invested in his portrayal of Jack Sparrow.
Depending on how Pirates 6 shapes up, Depp’s next deal could rival—or surpass—those figures. But this isn’t the early 2000s theatrical market anymore. A string of underperforming big-budget titles, including 2025’s Snow White and Captain America: Brave New World, has made studios far more cautious.
Still, Depp’s loyal fanbase hasn’t wavered. The bigger question is whether that passion can be converted into real box office success. While the actor stays active—his biographical drama Modi, Three Days on Wing of Madness premiered in 2024—his potential return to Pirates could be the most dramatic act yet.
Will Disney hoist the sails once more with Captain Jack at the wheel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments at Inside the Magic.
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