While nothing official about Disney's new Pirates of the Caribbean movie has been announced, a high-ranking executive played coy about Johnny Depp's potential return.
Depp has been involved in recent legal troubles, such as a highly public and closely covered lawsuit when he sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation.
This controversy led many to wonder if the actor would return to portray his famous roles once again like Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
In 2020, it was reported that Margot Robbie would headline a Pirates of the Caribbean spin-off movie.
However, in November 2022, Robbie told Vanity Fair that the planned Pirates film is no longer moving forward.
Despite that, Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that the sixth installment is still “alive” under the House of Mouse banner.
Will Johnny Depp Return for Pirates of the Caribbean?
In an interview with the New York Times, Disney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey talked about the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film while addressing Johnny Depp's possible comeback.
Bailey teased that they think they have "a really good, exciting story" that honors the previous films of the franchise:
“We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say."
When asked if Depp will return as Captain Jack Sparrow, Bailey admitted that nothing is set in stone yet left the door open for a comeback, saying, it's "noncommittal at this point.”
Will Johnny Depp Return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
Disney executive Sean Bailey’s reassuring comment about Pirates of the Caribbean 6 suggests that the movie is happening. However, Bailey’s blunt response to Johnny Depp’s potential comeback likely indicates that the actor’s involvement is still up in the air.
During Depp's defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard in early 2022, via Yahoo, the actor said that he wouldn't work with Disney on another Pirates film since he felt betrayed by the studio over how they "responded" to his legal controversy.
In May 2022, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 producer Jerry Bruckheimer, via The Sunday Times, revealed that Depp's return as Jack Sparrow wasn't a possibility, saying, "Not at this point."
Based on the responses and past interviews, it's safe to assume that Depp's involvement as the famous captain will not happen anytime soon unless a change of heart between the two sides will occur.
