About eight years after the release of what had been the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, word has surfaced that Johnny Depp (62) might be returning to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. The star, who is set to make his Hollywood comeback soon with Day Drinker, apparently has expressed interest.
For several years now, since at least 2019, there have been recurring rumors and speculation about a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot. Depp himself hasn’t publicly spoken about a comeback as Jack Sparrow, but blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer (81) revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he has spoken with the actor about it.
Under this condition, Johnny Depp would likely be on board
Depp isn’t ruling out the idea. “If he likes how the role is written, I think he would do it,” Bruckheimer said. “It all depends on what’s on the page, as we all know.” The script work, however, isn’t finished yet. “We want to shoot the film. We just have to find the right script.” They’re not quite there yet, but they’re close.
Already in 2024, Bruckheimer told the magazine that he’d love to see Depp back in the part: “It’s a reboot, but if it were up to me, he’d be in it. I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s a great artist and has a unique look.” The producer also explained that Depp essentially created the Jack Sparrow character in a sense. “That was his interpretation of Jack Sparrow,” Bruckheimer said. So the character wasn’t originally in the script; Depp had the idea for a blend of Pepé Le Pew and Keith Richards.
The film Day Drinker, starring Penélope Cruz (51) and Madelyn Cline (27), slated for release in 2026, marks Depp’s first major Hollywood project since his legal battle with his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard (39). After a multi-week defamation trial in which the former spouses accused each other of domestic violence, the court ultimately ruled largely in Depp’s favor in 2022. In the following years, Depp appeared in the French film Jeanne du Barry and directed Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
Disney Didn’t Like a ‘Gay’ Jack Sparrow
In 2010, Depp revealed that his “gay” portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow had caused irritation at Disney (TheColu.mn reported). When asked by a member of the production team, he simply replied, “All my characters are gay.” (spot)
