For over twenty years, Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow has sailed through cinematic storms and audience adoration alike. And though his ship appeared to dock for good, new winds may be guiding him back toward Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
The first Pirates film arrived in 2003, a wild gamble based on a theme park attraction. Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, The Curse of the Black Pearl became a box office phenomenon. Depp’s quirky, unpredictable take on the title character was met with raised eyebrows by Disney brass—but fans latched on, hard. Jack Sparrow was strange, swaggering, and unforgettable.
Four sequels followed: Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, and Dead Men Tell No Tales. Alongside Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, Depp helped turn a supernatural pirate tale into a global juggernaut.
But behind the scenes, Depp’s personal and legal troubles began to pull the sails from his career. In 2020, he brought a libel case against The Sun in the U.K., contesting their use of the term “wife-beater” in reference to allegations made by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The judge ruled the claims were “substantially true.”
After losing the appeal in 2021, consequences followed fast. Warner Bros. parted ways with Depp in its Fantastic Beasts franchise, and Disney appeared to close the chapter on Jack Sparrow.
In 2022, the legal drama intensified. Depp filed a defamation suit against Heard in the U.S. over her Washington Post op-ed about domestic abuse. The ensuing trial, a media frenzy in Fairfax County, Virginia, became its own kind of spectacle.
The result? A split but mostly favorable verdict for Depp: $10 million in compensatory damages, $5 million in punitive damages (later capped), and $2 million awarded to Heard.
One courtroom exchange stood out. Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn asked Depp, “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 answered: “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”
Still, time changes everything—especially in Hollywood. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed previously that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 was in active development, and he voiced his hope that Depp would return. “Nothing has been ruled out,” Variety noted in late 2024.
Two projects are in play: one continuing the main saga and another that was initially set to star Barbie actress Margot Robbie. Though Robbie herself said the project had been shelved, Bruckheimer contradicted that, claiming it was simply waiting for its turn.
By February 2025, speculation intensified as word spread that Pirates 6 was quietly setting sail on a Hollywood soundstage—with Depp’s potential return part of the conversation.
And he may not be the only familiar face returning. Orlando Bloom, speaking on This Morning, said: “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. 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.”
If Disney brings Depp back aboard, it won’t be cheap. Though the $300 million alpaca joke may be an exaggeration, his track record suggests a massive payday would be required. As reported by Screen Rant, Depp earned:
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$10 million for The Curse of the Black Pearl
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$60 million for Dead Man’s Chest
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$50 million for At World’s End
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$55 million for On Stranger Tides
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$90 million for Dead Men Tell No Tales
In a theatrical market that’s proven shaky—see the underperformance of Snow White (2025) and Captain America: Brave New World (2025)—investing in Depp is a gamble. But few actors have a role so closely tied to a franchise’s identity.
As Depp’s independent film Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness reached theaters in 2024, he proved he doesn’t need the Pirates machine to keep moving. But if Disney calls, he may just decide the seas are worth sailing once more.
What direction should Disney take with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Please Johnny come back! And with Orlando and Kira. That movie would make so much money!!!!