Disney Doubles Down on Captain Jack Amid Johnny Depp’s Rumored ‘Pirates’ Return

Disney is doubling down on one of its most iconic and famous fictional characters.

A man dressed as a pirate, with long braided hair, a tricorn hat, and a tattered coat, stands in the foreground looking to the side. In the blurred background of this 2025 Theme Park setting, a man in a red military uniform holds a musket and stands outside a wooden building reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean. — Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Updates and remodels are the name of the game when it comes to the theme park industry, and Walt Disney World is no exception. Disney’s Floridian resort has seen numerous enhancements and expansions over the years, especially within the last decade, welcoming new immersive lands like the Star Wars-themed Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora—The World of Avatar.

While both of these expansions have proven to be monumental for Walt Disney World, they really are the tip of the iceberg, with the resort quite possibly now in the middle of one of its most important and transformational periods of all time. All four theme parks are seeing changes, some more than others, with the Magic Kingdom getting a lot of the attention.

While the park will be getting a new themed land to explore, one of Magic Kingdom’s most interesting new additions is a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar that promises to immerse patrons in their own pirating adventure. Named The Beak and Barrel, this new tavern will be located in Adventureland right near the entrance to Disney World’s classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

While the new location features many exciting details and Easter eggs to uncover, one of the most interesting aspects is its connection to the dark ride and the films that spawned from it. A new video shared by Walt Disney Imagineering revealed some of the more intricate details guests will be able to discover once The Beak and Barrel opens.

During the video, a section of seemingly hand-carved wooden trim wraps around part of the tavern. Carvings of characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean series, namely Davy Jones and Captain Jack Sparrow, are in the trim.

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According to Disney, The Beak and Barrel will open in “late 2025.” Once open, the new location will join Disney World’s growing collection of immersive bars and lounges, which now include the Star Wars-themed Oga’s Cantina and EPCOT’s recently opened GEO-82.

It’s not an entirely surprising detail, but it’s still interesting nonetheless, especially considering Disney’s rocky relationship with Johnny Depp, the actor behind the character. Depp and Disney had a public falling out following the bombshell defamation case between the actor and his former partner, Amber Heard in 2022.

At times, it seemed like Depp was done with Disney and vice versa, leaving the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise on icy waters. However, reports have come out recently claiming Disney, Depp, and longtime Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer have a plan to steer the ship.

All three core characters, Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swan, are rumored to return for a still-unofficial sixth Pirates film. While the series’ future is uncertain, the continued inclusion of Captain Jack in places like Walt Disney World indicates that Disney is far from done with the character.

Are you excited for The Beak and Barrel?