Jerry Bruckheimer isn’t sure if Johnny Depp will be back for Pirates sequel

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Disney's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide over the course of five films, but after the last film, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, wound up under-performing compared to the previous installments, Disney began exploring the possibilities of rebooting the franchise. Combined with Johnny Depp's real-life personal struggles, it seemed that Disney was charting a course away from Captain Jack Sparrow, but it's possible that Depp's future in the franchise hasn't been scrubbed completely clean.

While speaking with Collider, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer was asked about Johnn Depp's possible role in the upcoming sequel/reboot. "The one we’re developing right now, we’re not sure quite what Johnny’s role is going to be," Bruckheimer said. "So, we’re going to have to see." Collider guesses, and I agree, that if Johnny Depp does return as Captain Jack Sparrow, it will be in a reduced capacity; I can't see Sparrow leading another PIRATES film. As far as the status of the next installment of the PIRATE OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise, Bruckheimer said, "We’re working on a draft right now and hopefully we’ll get it shortly and give it to Disney and hopefully they’ll like it. We don’t know. We’ve been working on it for a little bit."

Disney tapped Craig Mazin, creator and writer of HBO's excellent Chernobyl mini-series, with developing a story for the next PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN adventure last year. Franchise veteran Ted Elliot is also onboard to help guide the story which is being designed to "propel fresh wind" into the franchise. There have also been rumours that Disney is looking at Karen Gillan (AVENGERS: ENDGAME) to replace Johnny Depp as the lead of the new film, possibly as Redd, a popular female pirate at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland.