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Johnny Depp hasn’t completely ruled out playing Captain Jack Sparrow again, but if he does return for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, he wants the story to have a proper ending. The actor recently spoke about the possibility while promoting his upcoming film Ebenezer, offering a clearer idea of what might convince him to revisit one of his best-known roles. There have been rumours about Depp returning for years, but nothing has been officially confirmed, and Disney still hasn’t announced a cast or release date for the next film.
His comments come a few months after producer Jerry Bruckheimer said in August that discussions about a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film were still happening. A script is also in development, so the project hasn’t disappeared, even if there’s no clear timeline for when it might move forward. Depp’s latest remarks are interesting because he seems open to the idea, but he isn’t talking about coming back simply to make another sequel.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’: Johnny Depp Wants to Give Jack Sparrow a Better Ending
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Depp was asked whether he and Bruckheimer might work together again on Pirates of the Caribbean. He initially responded with a joke, saying:
“Well, I don’t know if you’ll see us set sail. We might do it privately.”
He then explained what would actually make him consider returning. For Depp, it comes down to how the story is handled and whether the franchise can get the ending it deserves.
“If everything aligns exactly as it should regarding how to conclude the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ saga, the only thing I’d truly want to do is give it a better ending.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean the sixth film would be the final Pirates movie, or even that Jack Sparrow would be the central character. But Depp’s point is fairly clear: he doesn’t want to come back just for the sake of it. If there’s a story worth telling, and it gives Sparrow a more satisfying conclusion, he’s willing to consider it.
The actor also made it clear that his relationship with Bruckheimer remains strong. He had plenty of praise for the producer, saying:
“I’d work with Bruckheimer again tomorrow on anything. It doesn’t matter what it is. If Jerry’s involved, I trust him. We have a deep friendship.”
Bruckheimer, for his part, has never hidden his interest in bringing Depp back. At Disney’s D23 event in August 2026, he confirmed that conversations with the actor were taking place and that work on the script was continuing.
“We are talking to Johnny. We’re working on a script, and we hope we can get it made.”
Depp played Jack Sparrow in five films between 2003 and 2017, turning what began as an adaptation of a Disney theme park attraction into one of the studio’s biggest franchises. The movies have earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide, with Sparrow becoming the face of the series. His last appearance was in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), which received a mixed response from critics but still performed well at the box office.
Of course, the possibility of Depp returning became complicated after his legal battle with Amber Heard. During his 2022 defamation trial, the actor said he would not work with Disney again, making a return to the franchise seem unlikely at the time. Things appear less straightforward now, particularly given his continued friendship with Bruckheimer and the producer’s efforts to keep the door open.
Disney has also been exploring other ways to continue the franchise. A spin-off starring Margot Robbie was in development for years, while screenwriter Jeff Nathanson has been working on another version of the story. Whether these projects will move forward alongside a possible Depp return is still unclear.
For now, there’s no official confirmation that Johnny Depp will be back as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. But his latest comments suggest the idea isn’t entirely off the table. He just wants one thing in return: a story that gives the character a better ending.
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