‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Co-star Has a Strong Opinion About Johnny Depp’s Return as Jack Sparrow

The world hasn’t seen Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow since 2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The excruciating six-year absence of Johnny Depp’s most exemplary freebooter has been nothing short of an emotional roller coaster. Since his firing by Disney and Warner Bros. following claims of serious abuse from ex-wife Amber Heard, the world has wondered what’s next for Depp. Will there ever be a Pirates 6?

Credit: Disney, Johnny Depp, Adobe

Although Johnny Depp’s future as Jack Sparrow remains in question, the lack of clarity regarding a return to sea has many deriving what will happen to the lucrative Disney-owned franchise moving forward. Considering Depp’s recent health issues while on tour with the Hollywood Vampires, as well as new details surrounding his supposed abuse of Heard brought to light in Netflix’s new series Depp v. Heard, the safe bet would be that he will not return to any future Pirate’s of the Caribbean projects.

In fact, rumors have swirled regarding how Disney would approach the franchise moving forward without Depp. Some have speculated that past characters portrayed by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley could take the reigns of the franchise. At the same time, some feel a spinoff featuring Barbie’s Margot Robbie could be the answer to keeping that magic that original Pirates films gave us. As the focus surrounding Depp’s divorce and subsequent trial with Amber Heard isn’t going away anytime soon, the perception of Johnny Depp as a non-capable actor fraught with controversy insists that Pirates of the Caribbean will have to continue without him.

Credit: Disney/ Canva

Many close to Depp have given their opinions on what the once desirable actor should do, including that of band-mate Alice Cooper, who went on record that the unfortunate abuse details surrounding Johnny Depp and Amber Heard would make for a good remake. Any further press regarding the terrible claims against Depp could only increase the distance between Disney and Jack Sparrow. Some have gone as far as to kick the fan-favorite actor while he’s down, highlighting their inability to work on a Pirate’s sequel alongside Depp, even attributing his lack of personal hygiene to an ability to work with him on set. However, others have a more positive outlook on Johnny Depp’s complicated relationship with Disney. A bodyguard close to him recently let slip that Depp was open to working with the company again alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Others have verified this claim, ultimately supporting the notion that the 60 year-old actor would return at some point as Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Although there is a clear divide in the “will Johnny Depp return to Pirates” crowd, another former co-star has come forward to tip the scales in favor of those who believe Jack Sparrow will likely never return to Disney. Vince Lozano, recently sat down with Movieweb and provided his take on the rough waters surrounding the potential of Depp returning to Disney. 

“Hanging out with [other] pirates, telling stories, building some camaraderie, making jokes on each other of course. Hanging out with Geoffrey Rush, talking about acting, life; same thing with Johnny Depp. He would tell me stories about how he did it, jumping into a pool, coming out cold and thinking about how British musician Keith Richards moved his body. Johnny is one of the best people you’ll ever meet. I think he deserves another shot as Jack, but I don’t think it’s going to happen, I’m hearing a lot of stories out there. The audience is there though. I do a lot of pirate conventions and there’s such a big subculture of people that dress up like pirates, and they love Johnny.”

Credit: Celebrityabc, Flickr

Lozano appeared alongside Johnny Depp and others as Jacoby in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, The Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2003. Although not a focal point of the movie, Lozano’s character can be seen early on when Captain Barbossa’s (Geoffrey Rush) crew sack Port Royal. Although not a primary character, Lozano reminisced about working closely with big names on the film, but ultimately feels that a return for Johnny Depp isn’t likely. Given the amount of bad press, and the current state of Johnny Depp who was seen recently looking almost unrecognizable to fans, Lozano’s assessment of Depp’s return in Pirate’s 6 is reasonable and most likely accurate.

Credit: Disney

However, there’s always hope, as many, including Bruckheimer, have suggested that they think if the script is suitable, Depp can clean up his act and get back to what made Jack Sparrow great in the first place. Depp is indeed a one-of-a-kind talent, capable of presenting a wide range that makes him a suitable option for many different types of roles. Notable films outside of Pirates of the Caribbean include Edward Scissorhands (1990), Finding Neverland (2004), and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) are prime examples of how diverse Depp can be when he’s in good condition. He’s one of the most talented names in Hollywood, but the recent tarnish of his brand could prove challenging to overcome, especially given the actor’s age.

Do you think Depp will return to Pirates of the Caribbean?