Three Years After Johnny Depp’s Trial, Return of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Stars Confirmed
Two decades after launching one of its most lucrative live-action franchises, Disney appears ready to sail back into Pirates of the Caribbean territory—with some familiar faces potentially joining the crew.
Setting Sail Again: The Legacy of Jack Sparrow
Since his 2003 debut in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow became a fixture in pop culture and an unexpected pillar of Disney’s box office strategy. What began as a gamble for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer—especially given Depp’s eccentric spin on the pirate archetype—turned into a global powerhouse.
Captain Jack led a five-film run, with each installment—Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2010), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)—building on the legend. Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner added a romantic and generational thread that anchored the sprawling, effects-heavy saga.
By the time the fifth movie arrived, Depp was earning top-dollar, reportedly raking in $90 million for Dead Men Tell No Tales alone. But soon, storm clouds gathered.
From Box Office Titan to Hollywood Fallout
Depp’s legal entanglements with ex-wife Amber Heard sparked industry-wide consequences. The actor lost his libel case in the U.K. after a judge found the abuse claims “substantially true,” and efforts to appeal failed. Disney swiftly distanced itself from the star, and Warner Bros. replaced him in the Fantastic Beasts franchise with Mads Mikkelsen. That third installment, The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), struggled at the box office and failed to revive the faltering Wizarding World series.
Meanwhile, Heard’s casting in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom drew public scrutiny, fueled by online movements like #JusticeForJohnnyDepp and #FireAmberHeard.
Depp’s U.S. defamation case in 2022, stemming from Heard’s Washington Post op-ed, became a cultural flashpoint. A Virginia jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages (later reduced), while Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages.
During the trial, Depp was asked directly about a Disney return:
“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?” Depp replied: “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”
Sails Stirring Again
Despite that emphatic rejection, producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently teased a possible course correction. In an interview regarding F1 (2025) with Screen Rant‘s Ash Crossan, Bruckheimer remained cryptic about who might be returning:
“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…It’ll be a new take on it…Well, not all new actors. We’ll have some back…I’m not going to tell you which ones–you’ll have to guess.”
That tease echoes sentiments shared by Orlando Bloom earlier this month. Speaking on This Morning, the Will Turner actor reflected on the uncertainty—and possibility—of a return:
“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.”
Two Paths Ahead: Pirates 6 and a Margot Robbie Spinoff
While plans have shifted over the years, Bruckheimer recently reaffirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is the current priority. A Margot Robbie-led spinoff once thought shelved may still be in play, though the future of that project remains less certain.
As of late 2024, Variety reported that “nothing has been ruled out” when it comes to Depp’s involvement—even in a reimagined version of the franchise. By early 2025, speculation intensified as reports surfaced that Disney was quietly preparing Pirates 6 for production, possibly with Depp in tow.
As Screen Rant noted, the approach mirrors Hollywood’s recent strategy of combining legacy characters with fresh faces. Disney deployed this to great effect in 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens, blending the old guard—Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa—with new heroes like Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
What Will It Cost to Bring Jack Back?
If Depp does return, it won’t come cheap. The infamous “$300 million and a million alpacas” remark aside, his previous paychecks speak volumes about the franchise’s financial stakes. With big-budget flops like Snow White and Captain America: Brave New World hitting Disney in 2025, executives may think twice about such an investment.
But with Depp’s fans still vocal and loyal, the question remains: can that enthusiasm translate into ticket sales?
While Depp has kept busy—his film Modi, Three Days on Wing of Madness, debuted in 2024—the prospect of him reprising Jack Sparrow could mark a significant chapter in his career.
Will the Black Pearl sail again with its original captain? Let us know what you think.
