Johnny Depp is reportedly in discussions to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a sixth installment of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer hinted at the potential return while attending Disney's D23 fan event on Sunday, telling Deadline that "We're talking with Johnny, we're working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done."
While the upcoming film is expected to center on a new character, reportedly to be played by Margot Robbie, Bruckheimer's comments suggest executives are considering Depp's return.
If the project moves forward, it would mark the first Pirates of the Caribbean film since "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" was released in 2017. Representatives for Bruckheimer, Depp, and Walt Disney Pictures have not yet provided further comment on the report.
Bruckheimer had previously stated that Robbie was still involved in a potential sixth film, with screenwriter Ted Elliott working on the script. He mentioned that at one point there were two scripts, but one was ultimately pursued.
Depp originated the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the 2003 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." The franchise has since produced four sequels, grossing over $4.5 billion worldwide across its first five films. The most recent film, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," was released in 2017.
In 2018, screenwriter Stuart Beattie had suggested that Depp's time as Jack Sparrow might be coming to an end, noting that the character had become the actor's most famous role and that "Jack Sparrow will be his legacy."