The Future of Pirates of the Caribbean: Will Depp Return?
In 2003, Disney released the first film in what would become one of its most successful franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, the movie cemented Depp in the hearts of Disney fans. He starred in five Pirates films: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise grossed Disney $4.5 billion, with two films surpassing the billion-dollar mark. Despite the final two films not being as successful as the first three, Disney was determined to move forward with Pirates of the Caribbean 6. That plan changed after an OpEd was published in The Washington Post in December 2018.
The Infamous OpEd
The OpEd, written by the ACLU and polished on behalf of Depp’s ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, accused Depp of various forms of abuse. The backlash against Depp was swift. He was dropped by Disney from Pirates 6 and replaced as Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts. Depp went from being one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors to struggling to find work. Initially believed to have been written by Heard, it was later revealed that the OpEd was actually written by the ACLU with Heard’s approval.
Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard
In 2019, Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against Heard, claiming she was trying to ruin his career with lies. He sued her for $50 million. Heard filed a $100 million countersuit, alleging Depp was harassing her to get her fired from the Aquaman franchise and ad campaigns like L’Oréal. The trial, which began in April 2022, lasted six weeks, with both parties accusing each other of severe abuse. The jury found both Depp and Heard to be mutually defamatory, but Heard was deemed more at fault.
Depp was awarded over $15 million, while Heard received just $2 million. Depp eventually agreed to settle with Heard for $1 million, which he donated to charity.
The Road to Pirates of the Caribbean 6
Before the release of On Stranger Tides in 2011, Disney announced plans to film the fifth and sixth Pirates movies back-to-back. Dead Men Tell No Tales star Kaya Scodelario, who played Carina Smyth, confirmed a sixth film was in the works and she had signed on to star in it. However, the sixth film never materialized.
In 2019, Disney announced that Craig Mazin and Ted Elliott would write the new movie, with Joachim Rønning set to direct. Rumors about potential stars for Pirates 6 included Hailee Steinfeld and Austin Butler. Steinfeld never commented, while Butler denied hearing the rumors but expressed his love for the franchise.
For a time, Disney planned to replace Depp with Margot Robbie, with a script and Jerry Bruckheimer attached as producer. However, in 2022, Robbie announced her Pirates film was no longer happening. Bruckheimer, however, hinted that Robbie’s story might still be possible in the future.
Bruckheimer and Rossio’s Hopes for Depp’s Return
Jerry Bruckheimer and screenwriter Terry Rossio, who has worked on all five Pirates films, have both voiced their desire for Depp to return as Captain Jack Sparrow. Rossio emphasized that Depp’s return hinges on the quality of the script and the feasibility of the project, not on Depp himself.
Rossio also expressed interest in bringing back other original cast members, including Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley. He envisions a Pirates of the Caribbean universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with different characters getting their own films.
Would Johnny Depp Return as Captain Jack?
Depp has expressed hurt over being dropped by Disney following Heard’s allegations. During his defamation trial, he stated he wouldn’t return to Disney even for “$300 million and one million alpacas.” However, fans speculate that his stance might have softened, and insiders suggest Depp might be open to returning for the right price.
For now, the direction Disney will take remains uncertain. Those involved with the Pirates films are eager for Depp’s return, and fans have made it clear they want to see him back as Captain Jack Sparrow. The decision is in Disney’s hands, and only time will tell if they will heed the fans’ wishes.
