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Credit: DisneyDisney is charting a new course for its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer hinting that familiar faces could be part of the next high-seas adventure.
It’s been more than two decades since Johnny Depp introduced audiences to Captain Jack Sparrow in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The film, a surprise box office triumph from Disney and Bruckheimer, redefined the modern swashbuckler and turned Depp’s eccentric performance into a global phenomenon.
Initially met with skepticism from Disney executives, Depp’s swaggering, slurring Jack Sparrow became the heart of the franchise, which expanded with Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2010), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Alongside Depp, Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner added romance and legacy to the saga.
Depp’s paychecks reflected his central role, with the actor reportedly earning $90 million for Dead Men Tell No Tales. But while the franchise thrived on-screen, his career soon faced turbulence.
Legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard shifted public focus. In 2020, Depp lost a U.K. libel case against The Sun for labeling him a “wife-beater,” with Justice Andrew Nicol ruling the claims were “substantially true.” Social media campaigns like #JusticeForJohnnyDepp emerged, but the fallout was immediate: Disney distanced itself from him, and Warner Bros. recast his Fantastic Beasts role with Mads Mikkelsen for The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). The film underperformed, and the studio abandoned future installments.
Depp later filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard in the U.S., while she countersued for $100 million. The 2022 Virginia trial captivated global attention. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (reduced to $350,000), while Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages.
During testimony, Depp dismissed any chance of working with Disney again. Asked if “nothing on this earth” could persuade him to return to Pirates, even for “$300 million and a million alpacas,” he replied: “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.
Despite that statement, Bruckheimer has continued to express interest in bringing Depp back. In an interview with Screen Rant’s Ash Crossan for F1 (2025), the producer confirmed Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is moving forward and teased the involvement of returning cast members:
Jerry Bruckheimer: We’re working on a screenplay. Hopefully we’ll get it right–and then we’ll make it. We really want to make it, that’s for sure.
ScreenRant: A continuation or something new?
Bruckheimer: It’ll be a new take on it.
ScreenRant: New take, new actors?
Jerry Bruckheimer: Well, not all new actors. We’ll have some back.
ScreenRant: Okay…
Bruckheimer: I’m not going to tell you which ones–you’ll have to guess.
Adding to speculation, Orlando Bloom expressed interest in reprising his role as Will Turner. On This Morning, he shared: “There’s been all kinds of things. Who knows? There’s been talk. I can’t say anything at the moment, because I really don’t know. They’re definitely… I think they’re trying to work out what it would all look like. I, personally, think it would be great to get the band back together. That would be great. But there are always different ideas, so we’ll see where it lands.”
Pirates of the Caribbean Name Change Announced
When the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise resurfaces, it will likely bring with it many changes. But not all changes are happening on screen. For hardcore fans of the franchise, the pricey upcoming Black Pearl LEGO ship will likely be a desired item. But don’t expect to see the Black Pearl on shelves, no, LEGO and Disney have renamed this iconic vessel simply as “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship,” omitting the Black Pearl name entirely.
“The name reflects an internal creative decision by the LEGO Group and The Walt Disney Company,” the LEGO Group responded to a curious fan on Instagram. Later, Brick Fanatics sat down with the designer of the Pirate Ship, Mike Psiaki, who gave another response to the question.
“I’ll give you the most boring answer, which is I can’t say,” he said at the round table event. “It’s an internal thing that, unfortunately, we’re just not going to talk about. But as a designer, we are quite removed from the naming process of the product.”
“As we’re making something, we’ll give suggestions at certain points in the process, but the naming, the packaging, all of these things actually happen quite a bit later, once the model development itself is done,” Psiaki explained. “But on this one, I actually heard the initial proposal: ‘We’re going to call it Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship.’ And I said, ‘You have to put in Captain.’ They always forget the captain. You have to put that in there.”
This is not the first time that Disney and LEGO have renamed a significant part of the franchise. Years ago, Boba Fett’s Slave 1 was renamed “Boba Fett’s Starship” for the LEGO release.
The Franchise Charts Its Next Course
Two projects appear to be in development: a sixth main entry and a spinoff with Barbie star Margot Robbie. Robbie previously suggested her project was shelved, but Bruckheimer has insisted it remains possible, though Pirates 6 takes precedence.
Variety reported in late 2024 that “nothing has been ruled out” regarding Depp’s involvement. In early 2025, reports suggested Disney had quietly prepared Pirates 6 for production on a Hollywood soundstage, fueling speculation of his return.
The strategy would echo Hollywood’s “legacy sequel” trend of mixing original stars with new leads. It is similar to how Disney handled Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens (2015) by pairing Daisy Ridley’s Rey with the returning Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).
The Cost of Rehiring Depp
If Depp does return, Disney would face significant financial considerations. His past paydays established him as one of Hollywood’s highest earners, and any new deal could rival those figures. However, studios are cautious in today’s market, where 2025 tentpole projects like Disney’s Snow White, Captain America: Brave New World, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps have struggled.
Even so, Depp’s fanbase remains fiercely loyal. His recent projects, including the 2024 biographical drama Modi, have kept him active, but a Pirates comeback could redefine his Hollywood trajectory.
With Bruckheimer openly teasing legacy characters and Bloom voicing interest, the possibility of Depp steering the Black Pearl (if that is what it will even be called) again feels closer than ever. Whether Disney takes the gamble may depend on whether the star’s enduring popularity can still translate into box office gold.
Do you think more changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are coming? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!