Johnny Depp’s return to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ hinges on one condition as franchise producer says he’s ‘open’ to it

The future of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which has made billions of dollars, is uncertain. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has sparked new rumors about whether Johnny Depp, the franchise’s most famous star, might return. Even though Depp had a very public and messy breakup with Disney in 2018, recent comments from Bruckheimer suggest a possible comeback could happen if the right script is found.

Bruckheimer, who has worked closely with Depp for years and considers him a friend, has said publicly that he has talked to the actor about playing Captain Jack Sparrow again. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bruckheimer sounded hopeful, telling reporters, “If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it. It’s all about what’s on the page, as we all know.”

This is a big change from Depp’s past refusal to return to the franchise, which he made clear during his 2022 court case. At the time, when asked if he would ever work with Disney again, Depp famously said he would not go back, even for “$300 million and a million alpacas.”

Depp may come back to Disney years after winning lawsuit

Depp’s relationship with Disney fell apart after his ex-wife, Amber Heard, wrote an article in 2018 describing her experiences with domestic abuse. Although the article did not mention Depp by name, the accusations led Disney to cut ties with him soon after.

Depp may have won his libel lawsuit, but this felt like a deep betrayal. This was especially painful for the actor since he had worked with Disney for more than ten years.

He was the one who created Captain Jack Sparrow, a character inspired by Keith Richards and Pepé Le Pew. At first, Disney did not like the idea, but they eventually embraced it, and the role became a worldwide sensation. Now, as the Pirates of the Caribbean series faces a turning point, there may be a chance for Depp and Disney to make peace.

Since the first movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, came out in 2003, the franchise has become a huge success, earning more than $4.5 billion globally. Two of its films, Dead Man’s Chest and On Stranger Tides, each made over a billion dollars at the box office. But without Depp, the future of the series has been unclear.

A planned reboot starring Margot Robbie was reportedly canceled, and Disney has been trying to figure out where to take the franchise next. Bruckheimer, however, still believes in the idea of a reboot that could include Captain Jack Sparrow’s return.

He has confirmed that several scripts are being written, with a team working to find the best story. Bruckheimer said, “It’s a reboot, but if it was up to me, he would be in it. I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist, and he’s a unique look. 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.”