Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is moving forward, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirming talks with Johnny Depp and ongoing screenplay work. Depp is not officially signed yet, and Jack Sparrow may not be the main lead. There have also been reports that Margot Robbie may be involved.
Disney hasn’t said when the movie will come out or when it will be filmed, so the project is still in the planning stages, and important creative and casting decisions haven’t been made yet.
Is Johnny Depp Returning for Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
Image © 2025 Peter Mountain / Disney
Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is moving forward, but Johnny Depp is not officially returning yet. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed at D23 that talks with Depp are underway while a screenplay is being developed. Walt Disney Pictures has not announced a release date, filming schedule, or complete cast for the planned sixth installment.
How Close Is Johnny Depp to Returning as Jack Sparrow?
“We’re talking with Johnny,” Bruckheimer said as the clearest update so far. He also said that the team is working on a screenplay and hopes to make the movie. Earlier, Jerry Bruckheimer said that Depp’s part would depend on the script. For now, it’s still possible, but not certain, that Depp will come back as Captain Jack Sparrow.
- Current talks: Bruckheimer confirmed direct discussions with Johnny Depp, but no signed contract has been announced.
- Changing outlook: In 2022, Bruckheimer said Depp was not returning “at this point,” while leaving the future open. By 2025, he said he had spoken with Depp and believed the actor “would do it” if the story worked.
- Unconfirmed details: Disney has not said whether Jack Sparrow will lead the sixth film, receive a final adventure, or appear alongside returning cast members.
Could Jack Sparrow Have a Smaller Role in Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
Deadline reports that Margot Robbie could be positioned as the protagonist, with Jack Sparrow appearing in a supporting role. That approach could give the Disney franchise new characters while keeping its most recognizable pirate. However, this remains reported creative direction rather than an official plot from Walt Disney Pictures.
- Legacy characters: Orlando Bloom played Will Turner, Keira Knightley played Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush played Captain Hector Barbossa across previous films. None is confirmed for the sixth movie.
- Story possibilities: The fifth film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, included a post -credits scene teasing Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman. That creates a potential Pirates thread, but no return has been confirmed.
- Franchise history: Gore Verbinski directed the first film, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End. The fourth film, On Stranger Tides, changed direction before the last film continued the Caribbean franchise.
What Does the New Script Mean for Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
The new screenplay is important because it shows that work is still being done on the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
That doesn’t mean that production has begun. Inspired by a Disney theme park ride, the Caribbean film series has made five films and about $4.5 billion at the box office around the world. This gives Disney a good reason to make another Caribbean movie.
- Writing history: The Caribbean project has gone through two scripts and several writers. Craig Mazin and Ted Elliott were linked to one version, while Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick worked on an earlier attempt. Ted Elliot is an incorrect spelling of Ted Elliott, and Jeff Nathanson wrote Dead Men Tell No Tales.
- Unsupported claims: There is no reliable confirmation of Jack Sparrow’s son, new Pirate Lords, an eighth film, a Black Pearl storyline, movies shot back to back, or a part’s written for specific actors. Claims that Pirates of the Caribbean is officially dead also conflict with Bruckheimer’s current update.
- What comes next: Fans asking how many movies exist currently have five released entries. The sixth Pirates film still needs a finished strong story, casting decisions, production plans, and a release date. The franchise’s success makes each confirmed development especially important for longtime audiences.
Final Thoughts
Disney announced that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is making progress, but several major details remain unsettled. There are talks with Johnny Depp, a screenplay is being written, and the franchise could get a younger cast. Now that five movies have done well, fans have even more reason to wait for the next official Disney news.
FAQs
Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in development, with Jerry Bruckheimer confirming that screenplay work and talks with Johnny Depp are underway, although Disney has not announced a release date.
Current development indicates there could be a sixth movie, potentially combining familiar characters with a younger cast, but production has not been officially announced.
A screenplay is being developed, but Disney has not announced a production start or release date, so the movie should not yet be treated as fully confirmed for the big screen.
Johnny Depp is in talks to return as Jack Sparrow, and current reporting does not establish that Disney plans to replace Johnny Depp with another actor.
The franchise produced five successful films, while Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow became its defining character, especially throughout the original trilogy, keeping interest in another adventure high.