Jerry Bruckheimer Gives Pirates of the Caribbean 6 Update, Says He's 'Talking' With Johnny Depp for Jack Sparrow Return

Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer has reignited hope of Johnny Depp reprising his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow one more time.

In a fresh update on Disney’s long-in-development plans for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, Bruckheimer confirmed that conversations were underway with Depp for the actor to potentially return as the infamous pirate.

Bruckheimer has long expressed interest in Depp donning his Captain Jack Sparrow costume once again, even when it seemed unlikely, as Disney mulled other, alternative routes forward for the franchise. Depp’s past legal issues with ex-wife Amber Heard saw Disney largely distance itself from the star, leading to some choice words from Depp in response. Meanwhile, long-gestating plans have placed Barbie star Margot Robbie at the forefront of Pirates 6 if and when it does ever materialize.

But as Depp charts a course back to mainstream Hollywood roles, the likelihood of him returning in some form as Jack Sparrow now seems greater than ever — even if it seems likely Depp will appear in more of a supporting role going forward.

“We’re talking with Johnny [Depp],” Bruckheimer told Deadline this past weekend. “We’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done.”

After years in the wilderness, Depp is expected to make a splash at the box office this Christmas in Ebeneezer, a new take on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, supported by a starry cast that includes Ian McKellen, Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough and Tramell Tillman.

Speaking last year, Bruckheimer confirmed “some” previous Pirates of the Caribbean actors would return for the next movie, while offering “a new take” on the franchise overall. Depp, meanwhile, appears to have retained a strong affection for his role as Jack Sparrow, which is widely seen as his most popular character among his fans. Fellow Pirates star Orlando Bloom has strongly hinted he wants to see Depp back, as well.

Five Pirates of the Caribbean movies have launched to date, beginning with The Curse of the Black Pearl back in 2003. The series’ most recent release, Dead Men Tell No Tales, arrived almost a decade ago, in 2017.