Actor Johnny Depp is in talks with producer Jerry Bruckheimer to return as Captain Jack Sparrow in a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Bruckheimer confirmed that the project remains active and that the studio is developing a new screenplay intended to revive the iconic character.
Speaking to Deadline magazine, Bruckheimer said that the production team is currently speaking with Depp, working on a script, and hoping to bring the film to fruition.
Sources cited by Deadline indicate that the upcoming movie is not designed as a standalone Jack Sparrow story. Instead, plans call for introducing a new female lead played by actress Margot Robbie, with Sparrow taking a secondary role.
The proposed change aims to shift the center of gravity for the franchise rather than remove Depp entirely. Film executives have sought for years to find a way forward for the series without relying exclusively on his character.
Box office history
The previous installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge, arrived in cinemas in 2017. Although it recorded the lowest ticket sales of the franchise, the movie still generated 795.9 million dollars worldwide.
Across all five existing films, the franchise has accumulated roughly 4.5 billion dollars at the international box office. The figures highlight a central challenge for Disney, which wants to continue commercializing one of its biggest cinematic properties while updating the traditional formula.
Development timeline
Bruckheimer has discussed various iterations of the sixth movie over several years, including potential routes for Depp to return. In 2025, the producer confirmed that Robbie remained attached to the project while script writing continued.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise began in 2003 with The Curse of the Black Pearl, inspired by the classic Walt Disney theme park attraction. Depp received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, a role that became one of the most recognizable feature film characters of twenty first century cinema.
Filmmakers have not yet confirmed whether Depp will ultimately take command of the Black Pearl again or appear in a supporting capacity. Studio executives and producers remain in active planning as script development progresses.
