Johnny Depp In Talks For 'Pirates 6' Says Jerry Bruckheimer At D23; 'Top Gun' Producer Wants To Keep Paramount In Hollywood
Deadline
β’Sun, 16 Aug 2026 19:23:19 +0000
π° What Happened
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer said at D23 that they are in talks with Johnny Depp for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' and working on a screenplay. Other sources indicate the continuation would focus on Margot Robbie's character as the protagonist, with Captain Jack Sparrow as more of a side figure, evolving the franchise. The last instalment, 'Dead Men Tell No Tales' (2017), was the lowest-grossing in the series.
π The Backstory
The 'Pirates' franchise has made $4.5 billion worldwide across five films, but the last entry underperformed and Depp's future in the series was thrown into doubt after his high-profile legal battles. Disney has been weighing how to continue the franchise, including through a Margot Robbie-led spinoff. Bruckheimer's remarks suggest an attempt to both honour the legacy character and pivot toward a fresh lead.
π― Why It Matters
The prospect of Depp returning as Jack Sparrow would be a major draw for box office, yet it also carries reputational and audience-divide risks. The plan to centre Margot Robbie while keeping Sparrow around suggests Disney is trying to refresh the franchise creatively while leveraging nostalgia. Hits and misses here shape one of Disney's biggest live-action properties.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer said at D23 that they are in talks with Johnny Depp for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' and working on a screenplay. Other sources indicate the continuation would focus on Margot Robbie's character as the protagonist, with Captain Jack Sparrow as more of a side figure, evolving the franchise. The last instalment, 'Dead Men Tell No Tales' (2017), was the lowest-grossing in the series.
The 'Pirates' franchise has made $4.5 billion worldwide across five films, but the last entry underperformed and Depp's future in the series was thrown into doubt after his high-profile legal battles. Disney has been weighing how to continue the franchise, including through a Margot Robbie-led spinoff. Bruckheimer's remarks suggest an attempt to both honour the legacy character and pivot toward a fresh lead.
The prospect of Depp returning as Jack Sparrow would be a major draw for box office, yet it also carries reputational and audience-divide risks. The plan to centre Margot Robbie while keeping Sparrow around suggests Disney is trying to refresh the franchise creatively while leveraging nostalgia. Hits and misses here shape one of Disney's biggest live-action properties.