Credit: DisneyJohnny Depp is officially reuniting with a familiar face from his Pirates of the Caribbean past, and the timing is certain to get fans talking.
Nine years have passed since Depp last appeared as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Since then, one question has continued to follow nearly every update surrounding the franchise: Will Depp ever put on Jack Sparrow’s hat again?
Disney has not confirmed that return. However, there have been encouraging developments surrounding Johnny Depp and the future of Pirates of the Caribbean. Now, while fans wait to see whether those talks actually lead somewhere, Depp is officially back alongside Penélope Cruz in a completely different movie.
The pair, who appeared together in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), have reunited for Day Drinker (2027), an upcoming Lionsgate thriller scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 26, 2027.
And we finally have our first major look at their reunion.
Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz Are Together Again
Lionsgate has released the first teaser trailer for Day Drinker (2027), putting Depp back at the center of a major Hollywood production.
The movie follows a bartender working aboard a private yacht, played by Madelyn Cline, who encounters a mysterious passenger played by Depp. Their meeting eventually pulls them into the orbit of a criminal figure portrayed by Cruz, although the full nature of their connection remains intentionally unclear.
Depp looks dramatically different from Captain Jack Sparrow in the footage. With gray hair, a beard, and a much darker appearance, his mysterious character seems to have plenty of secrets.
The project comes from director Marc Webb, with Zach Dean writing the screenplay. Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto, and Anika Boyle also appear in the cast.
But for longtime Depp fans, his reunion with Cruz may be the bigger story.
This isn’t their first reunion, either.
Depp and Cruz Have a Long History Together
Depp and Cruz first appeared together in Blow (2001), with Depp portraying George Jung and Cruz playing Mirtha Jung.
Ten years later, their careers crossed again in a much bigger franchise.
Cruz joined Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), the fourth installment in Disney’s blockbuster series. Depp returned as Captain Jack Sparrow, while Cruz played Angelica, a woman with a complicated history with Jack.
The two later reunited for Murder on the Orient Express (2017). That makes Day Drinker (2027) their fourth movie together.
Their latest collaboration also arrives during a particularly interesting point in Depp’s career.
After years away from major Hollywood studio productions, the actor has begun taking on larger projects again. In addition to Day Drinker (2027), Depp is starring as Ebenezer Scrooge in Ebenezer (2026).
Naturally, that renewed momentum has brought even more attention back to Captain Jack Sparrow.
Could Johnny Depp Still Return as Captain Jack Sparrow?
This is where fans need to separate what has actually happened from what they hope happens next.
Johnny Depp has not been officially confirmed to return as Captain Jack Sparrow.
There has been a meaningful development, though.
In August 2026, longtime Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer publicly confirmed that discussions with Depp were taking place while work continued on a screenplay for another movie.
“We’re talking to Johnny. We’re working on a screenplay. Hopefully we can get this done,” Bruckheimer said.
That’s considerably more concrete than years of rumors and speculation surrounding Depp’s possible return.
Still, talks are not the same thing as a signed deal.
Neither Disney nor Depp has announced that Captain Jack Sparrow will appear in the next Pirates of the Caribbeanmovie. There is no confirmed release date for another installment, either.
For fans hoping to see Jack sail again, Bruckheimer’s comments at least show that bringing Depp back remains part of the conversation.
It’s Been Nine Years Since Jack Sparrow’s Last Adventure
The length of Depp’s absence makes all of this particularly notable.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) arrived in theaters nine years ago, marking Depp’s fifth appearance as Jack Sparrow.
The franchise has remained without another theatrical installment ever since.
Disney has spent years developing different ideas for its future, but Jack Sparrow remains closely associated with the series. That has kept speculation about Depp alive even as the franchise explored other directions.
Now, for the first time in quite a while, fans have something more substantial than internet rumors to consider. Bruckheimer has publicly acknowledged discussions with Depp, while Depp himself is returning to major Hollywood projects.
None of that guarantees another voyage as Jack Sparrow, but it does explain why the possibility isn’t going away.
And Day Drinker (2027) provides an interesting reminder of one of Depp’s previous trips into the Pirates world.
Depp’s Hollywood Return Continues
For now, the confirmed reunion is between Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz.
The first trailer makes it clear that Day Drinker (2027) won’t simply try to recreate their earlier collaborations. Depp’s mysterious character and Cruz’s criminal figure appear to be operating in a much darker story, with the movie teasing crime, revenge, and potentially even supernatural elements.
Johnny Depp in the first trailer for Lionsgate’s DAY DRINKER:
“You thought I was f*** done? I’m done when I say I’m done!”
His big comeback to a major studio film releases on March 26, 2027. pic.twitter.com/wVtjU7yjux
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) September 24, 2026
The film is officially scheduled to hit theaters on March 26, 2027.
Whether another reunion waits beyond that remains the much bigger question.
Millions of Pirates of the Caribbean fans have spent years hoping Johnny Depp would eventually return as Captain Jack Sparrow. Nine years after his last appearance, Disney still hasn’t made that announcement.
But the situation is no longer based entirely on wishful thinking.
The franchise’s longtime producer has confirmed discussions with Depp, a new screenplay is being worked on, and Depp is once again taking prominent roles in major studio movies.
Until Disney makes something official, Captain Jack Sparrow’s return remains unconfirmed.
Johnny Depp’s reunion with his former Pirates of the Caribbean co-star, however, is already happening — and audiences will see Depp and Penélope Cruz together again when Day Drinker (2027) arrives in theaters next spring.
