A new seafaring journey may be on the horizon with rumors circulating of Disney secretly developing the next Pirates of the Caribbean film. There has been speculation of Johnny Depp reprising his Captain Jack Sparrow, fueling hopes of fans everywhere. But what’s real and what’s not, and what’s this speculation worth?
According to The DisInsider, Disney has been said to be setting up shop on a Hollywood sound stage for the sixth film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. There has not been a confirmed date for its beginning, albeit there has been speculation of Johnny Depp reprising his legendary character. Because there has been no second source for this, this report must be considered hearsay.
If true, this marks a dramatic reversal for Disney, with the studio previously ending its relationship with Depp in 2018 after then-spouse Amber Heard made accusations against him. But with Depp’s victory in a very public defamation lawsuit, opinion heavily shifted in his favor, and hopes for his return were ignited.
Since the release of The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, the Pirates franchise has been a runaway success, generating over $4.5 billion in international revenue. Depp’s unpredictable and unorthodox performance of Captain Jack Sparrow composed the heart of the films, for which he garnered an Academy Award nomination and established himself as America’s favorite actor. Disney has been developing a sixth film for over ten years, with varying rewrites of scripts and delays in filming causing the process to be suspended. In December of 2024, Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer, confirmed two scripts were being written, including one with Depp’s character and one without his presence, leaving the future of the series uncertain.
The potential for Depp’s future return has been causing a whirlwind of speculation from the audience, with Twitter and other online networks being filled with the news. Fans believe a Pirates film without Captain Jack Sparrow would be a mistake, with Depp’s charm and comedic timing being key contributing factors towards the films’ overall success.
However, industry insiders are still being cautious. Though Disney has not officially made a move towards Depp, there are signs the studio has not ruled out his potential comeback. This has only sparked more speculation on whether reconciliation is on the table.
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Aside from the reportedly Depp-starring sequel, Disney has also been working on a potential Pirates reboot. A spin-off with a female lead, with Margot Robbie on board, had been announced, but the film has been up in the air, with even Robbie conceding towards the end of 2023 that the film may not be going ahead.
If Disney ends up not rehiring Depp, the franchise can then take a whole different approach with different characters and a different tone. But others feel that the Pirates brand has been too intertwined with Captain Jack Sparrow for the films to be able to thrive without him.
