Summary
- Johnny Depp’s potential return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean hinges on reconciling with Disney.
- Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has a script with Depp in mind but is open to proceeding without him.
- Fans may not support a Depp-less Pirates of the Caribbean, as his portrayal of Jack Sparrow is iconic.
Pirates of the Caribbean‘s chance of seeing Johnny Depp return as Jack Sparrow rides on the currently sour relationship between himself and the Walt Disney Company. The face behind the iconic pirate is rumored to have a place in the script for the next installation of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, should things go as planned.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has grown in popularity since the first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2003. The five-film franchise has cumulatively earned over $4.5 billion at the box office, with Johnny Depp’s central role as Captain Jack Sparrow, the accident-prone and daring pirate, lauded as one of the movies’ greatest strongholds. Following allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, and the ensuing lawsuit, Disney ejected Depp from his role before a verdict was reached. Depp, who, in his words, had been labeled “guilty until proven innocent” by Disney, vowed not to re-take his role as he felt betrayed.
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Producer Bruckheimer Has a Script with Johnny Depp in Mind
Depp’s departure has put the franchise’s usually certain future in limbo, with the last installment being in 2017 with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. However, if the latest reports are anything to go by, there is some glimmer of hope on the horizon. There is no official statement from Disney endorsing Depp as the lead for the film, but according to Variety, established Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer is in the middle of developing two versions of the script, one of which leaves room for Depp’s potential return as Jack Sparrow if he can reconcile with Disney. “Nothing is being ruled out,” says Variety’s insider source. Back in May, Bruckheimer had previously stated that the new film would be a reboot and that he and writer Jeff Nathanson were unsure which script would win Disney’s favor.
Despite being exonerated, Depp is yet to receive an apology from Disney. If the Bob Iger-led company and the actor are unable to mend their rift, Bruckheimer has also previously expressed his willingness to proceed without Depp, although he would prefer him in the role. While a female-led Pirates of the Caribbean starring Margot Robbie with Bumblebee writer Christian Hodson pegged—but believed by the actress to have been canceled—has been confirmed to still be on Disney’s table, the franchise’s popularity is arguably tied to Depp’s Jack Sparrow. It goes without saying that Johnny Depp’s portrayal has turned the character into pop culture’s most famous pirate ever since his 2003 debut in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Many fans are unlikely to be keen on seeing a Depp-less Pirates of the Caribbean; thus replacing him will be a very risky gamble—one that Disney is apparently not too bold to take.
Whether Disney is ready to offer the olive branch remains an elusive answer, but fans would likely be wishing the more positive outcome would be the case if they ever hope to see “Johnny Sparrow” return to the high seas. While some fans have expressed an openness to seeing a younger actor bring more vigor and energy to the role—as Depp counts towards his 62nd birthday—the consensus seems to be, at least for now: no Depp, no Pirates of the Caribbean.
All five Pirates of the Caribbean films currently stream on Disney Plus.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
The fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales follows young Henry Turner as he enlists Captain Jack Sparrow to release his father, Will Turner, from the curse binding him to the Flying Dutchman. Their quest puts them in the path of ghostly pirate-hunter Captain Salazar, with whom Sparrow has a storied past. To save his old friend, Sparrow must confront his own past to reunite Will with his long-lost son.
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Source: Variety