I gasped. Loudly. At the thought: what if Jack Sparrow returns?
It's been nearly eight years since “Dead Men Tell No Tales” hit theaters in 2017. Now whispers swirl around Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed two parallel scripts are underway: one a clean reboot with new characters, the other possibly welcoming Depp back if “bridges can be unburned”.
He said it himself: “It's two different movies… we hope to get 'em both made”. One timeline leans into Margot Robbie's spin-off (still alive, despite Robbie's 2022 comments) ; the other flirts with the familiar swagger of Captain Jack.
“I would love to have him,” Bruckheimer told The Hollywood Reporter, riffing on Jack Sparrow's roots in Depp's Keith Richards impersonation and off‐the‐page charm. He insisted: “We're still working on it… we'll get there”.
What's more, Orlando Bloom—Will Turner to our hearts—has quietly peeked over the gunwale and said conversations are on. “Personally, I think it'd be great to bring the band back”. If both Will and Jack sailed back, fans might just cheer the loudest before the cannons fire.
The Two Script Currents
- Reboot track: A fresh crew, unmoored from legacy characters, penned by neat hands like Jeff Nathanson and Craig Mazin/Ted Elliott—lean, clean, rebootable.
- Legacy track: A Jack‑framed storyline, where Depp could slink in—maybe a cameo, maybe more—if Disney dares and Depp wants back.
Disney hasn't reached out—yet. But “nothing has been ruled out,” sources say. Still, Depp famously vowed during the 2022 defamation trial, “Not even for $300 million and a million alpacas”.
Why This Matters
You can reboot Pirates anytime. But can you pull off a Pirates reboot without Sparrow? That's like F1 without horsepower. Critics (and screens) remember: the early trilogy glowed under Depp's eccentric compass—without it, even the sparkle dims .
Bruckheimer gets it. He's not shy: “That was not on the page… that was him”. And Orlando's subtle nod isn't a small thing—it's the whisper before the cannon blast.
So… Will Jack Board Again?
No official dates yet. No cast announcements. Disney stays silent. But here's the tally:
| Element | Status |
|---|---|
| Scripts ready | Yes—two, diverging paths |
| Bruckheimer's stance | Loves the idea, pushed for it |
| Disney's position | Quiet but exploring both options |
| Depp's stance | Publicly skeptical—but “door left open” |
| Bloom's support | Confirmed excitement and talks |
Final Reflection
Jack Sparrow drifting in again? emotionally, yes. Nostalgic blasts of cannon fire, bottle-flashes of rum fumes and that rumpled swagger returning—why not? But cash-register logic might say skip nostalgia, go fresh. The smarter gamble: hedge both bets. Build a new ship and save a cabin for Sparrow if the wind blows right.
It's messy. It's perfect. It's Pirates. And like all good voyages, we may not know if Sparrow's aboard until the first shot rings out.
“So, Captain? Where's our next horizon?”
Maybe he's already aboard. Maybe he's not. Either way: we'll be watching.
