Bruckheimer previously said Depp’s decision would depend on the material. “If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it,” the producer told Entertainment Weekly in 2025. “It’s all about what’s on the page, as we all know.”
The producer has also described the next film as some form of reboot, although apparently not one that must abandon every familiar face. He said he would want Depp involved if the choice were his.
“It’s a reboot, but if it was up to me, he would be in it,” Bruckheimer said. “I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist and he’s a unique look.”
Could Orlando Bloom also come back?
Johnny Depp is not the only original cast member open to another voyage. Orlando Bloom, who played Will Turner in four entries, has said he would consider returning if the script worked and the wider cast came back with him.
During an appearance at Fan Expo Chicago, Bloom said the project would depend on the writing.
“Everything is in the writing, right? Everything is on the page, and I think there’s definitely, I’m sure there’s a way to create something,” he said.
Bloom added that he would “personally love to see everybody back,” arguing that reuniting the cast would give the film its best chance of succeeding. His enthusiasm came with sensible conditions: a strong screenplay and, ideally, broad participation from the original ensemble. Even pirates, it seems, read the contract before boarding.
The actor also acknowledged that the filmmakers have yet to settle the larger creative question of what a new Pirates movie should be. One possibility discussed over the years has been a female lead who could occupy a role similar to Jack Sparrow.
What happened to the Margot Robbie project?
Reports about a sixth film have circulated for years, sometimes pointing toward a different version of the franchise. Margot Robbie was widely linked to a proposed project built around a female protagonist, suggesting Disney might move away from Jack Sparrow rather than bring him back.
Bloom referred to that unresolved direction when discussing a possible return. “Do you bring in a female leading character that replicates Jack in some way? I don’t know,” he said. “The jury is out on how to do it again, but if the script was great, I’d be in.”
Bruckheimer’s latest comments do not clarify whether the screenplay now in development is connected to the Robbie concept, replaces it or belongs to another version entirely. They also leave open how a reboot would incorporate Depp’s character without simply repeating the previous five films.
What is clear is that the producers are no longer speaking about Jack Sparrow only as part of the franchise’s history. They are trying to write him into its future, provided Depp approves of what lands on the page.
Why Jack Sparrow remains difficult to replace
Bruckheimer has long credited Depp with creating much of the character beyond what appeared in the original screenplay. The producer said the actor combined elements inspired by cartoon character Pepé Le Pew and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards to develop Sparrow’s distinctive movement, voice and manner.
“He created Captain Jack,” Bruckheimer said. “That was not on the page; that was him doing a little Pepé Le Pew and Keith Richards. That was his interpretation of Jack Sparrow.”
That history helps explain why the franchise has struggled to decide whether to reboot, recast or reunite. Jack Sparrow became the defining figure of the series, even though the first film also centred heavily on Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley.
For now, the sixth film remains at the screenplay and negotiation stage. No returning cast members have been formally announced, and Disney has not confirmed a production date or release window. Still, talks with Depp mark the clearest indication yet that Captain Jack could sail again, assuming the script, cast and studio can all agree on where he is going.
