Johnny Depp could be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In an interview with Deadline, producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that discussions are happening with Depp to star in the upcoming sixth installment, potentially bringing the actor back as Captain Jack Sparrow.
“We’re talking with Johnny [Depp], we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done,” said Bruckheimer.
The sixth film could also shift the franchise’s focus. According to sources cited by Deadline, Margot Robbie’s character is expected to serve as the story’s primary protagonist, while Depp’s Jack Sparrow could appear in a supporting capacity rather than serving as the central character.
The last entry in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, was released in 2017. Plans for another installment have been discussed for years, but the project has yet to enter production.
Depp’s involvement has been one of the biggest questions surrounding the new movie. Disney distanced itself from the actor following domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. In 2018, Heard published an op-ed in The Washington Post discussing sexual violence. The allegations made in the piece did not specifically name Depp but came just a few years after the couple’s divorce and after Heard had obtained a temporary restraining order against Depp.
Depp later filed a defamation lawsuit against Heard, with a U.S. jury ruling in Depp’s favor in 2022.
In the past, Depp expressed reluctance about working with Disney again, but Bruckheimer previously indicated that bringing him back was always being discussed. Still, the producer’s latest remarks do not state that Depp has officially signed on to the film.
For now, the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie remains in development, with the screenplay still being worked on.
Stay tuned to AttractionInsight.com and follow our social media channels for more Disney news and beyond.
Attraction Insight is your one-stop destination for travel news, entertainment updates, and meticulously crafted travel guides.
