Summary
- The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise is rebooting, but Johnny Depp’s return is uncertain amidst controversy.
- Disney’s plans for the series, including a Margot Robbie-led reboot, are on hold, reflecting a significant shift in direction.
- Depp’s potential involvement remains unclear, marking a new era for the beloved franchise.
Johnny Depp may come back for the next Pirates of the Caribbean reboot. Depp, of course, played the iconic Jack Sparrow, the lead protagonist in the series.
The movie was based on a Disneyland attraction of the same name and eventually turned into a five-movie series that has done quite well business-wise at the box office, making about $4.5 billion.
It’s set to grow even more, with a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie planned to be a reboot for the franchise. As of now, everything regarding the plot and cast is under wraps.
Even though Depp is not expected to be starring in the reboot, it is not certain that he will be showing up to reprise the role in some form.
Back when Entertainment Tonight inquired with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, he said the following quote on the subject and said that Depp might show up in a future reboot. Check out his full quote right here:
“If it was up to me, of course. I love having Depp… He’s a great actor and a good friend… I’ve certainly spoken to him, but we’ll see what happens.”
Producer Hopes for Johnny Depp’s Return as Captain Jack Sparrow
Although reportedly having said that not even a King’s ransom would tempt him back to play Jack Sparrow, producer Jerry Bruckheimer still has hope that Depp might reprise his role.
“It’s a reboot, but if it were up to me, [Depp] would be in it,” Bruckheimer said to EW.
“I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist and he’s a unique look,” Bruckheimer added.
“He created Captain Jack. That was not on the page, that was him doing a little Pepé Le Pew and Keith Richards. That was his interpretation of Jack Sparrow.”
As of now, there’s not been a word about whether Depp will be in the works or not for the upcoming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ project.
Why Johnny Depp Might Still Return In Future ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Movies
Johnny Depp redefined the character of Jack Sparrow in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series, infusing each and every battle with leering joy and becoming the face of the franchise after 2003’s ‘Curse of the Black Pearl’.
But soon, the franchise can have a new face, as the ugly defamation battle between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard has left Disney, who is the family-friendly studio behind the movies, wary of the controversy.
Though producer Jerry Bruckheimer has positioned his latest effort, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6‘, as a possible free pass for the actor, it is already unlikely that Depp will step back into a leading role.
Perhaps at 60, Depp is more in the mood for directing—with his upcoming ‘Modi’ starring Al Pacino. However, we might see Depp return in some way in this supposed rebooted movie of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
Why the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise is Getting Rebooted
During the trial of Depp vs. Heard, Depp mentioned time and again that he would not want to come back to the Pirates of the Caribbean, not even for “$300 million and a million alpacas.”
As such, his stance has left Disney with only two options: either to end the franchise or go for a total reboot. After first thinking of a Margot Robbie-led reboot, the project was then put on ice indefinitely by Disney management. While producers say it’s still in development, that development has been compared to Pirates of Caribbean 6’s quick pace.
The historical profitability of the franchise combined with an unpredictable post-pandemic box office makes a revival pretty urgent.
The possibility of great success or a major flop with post-pandemic box office hits like Barbie and post-pandemic box office flops like Fast X, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and The Marvels keeps everyone on their toes.
Chernobyl scribe and The Last of Us writer Craig Mazin and Ted Elliott, the creator of The Curse of the Black Pearl, are steering the reboot, which is still very much in the early stages. No cast or story details have been announced.
Depp’s disinterest reveals that he is likely not going to be in the movie for sure, but circumstances may change. If he would, it likely would be in a reduced role, since the movie marks a new era for the franchise.
Johnny Depp Open to Collaboration with Disney Despite Feeling Betrayed
Last year, a source close to the actor told PEOPLE Magazine that Depp had said he felt “officially finished with Disney,” but the star “would still consider working with the studio on the right project.”
He said, “Anything is possible. If it’s the right project, he’ll do it.”
Shortly thereafter, Sean Bailey, president of Disney Studio Motion Picture Production, mentioned the future of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies and said he could not be more confident about Johnny Depp’s work.
“We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say,” he tells the New York Times.
