Overview
- Producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Deadline at D23 on Sunday that "we're talking with Johnny" and that a screenplay for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in progress, marking the clearest movement on the long‑gestating project.
- Multiple outlets report unidentified industry sources say the new film is being built around a new protagonist widely reported to be played by Margot Robbie, with Depp’s Jack Sparrow likely serving as a supporting or bridge character rather than the central lead.
- No formal deals have been announced and key production elements remain unsettled, including the director, a finished script, confirmed casting, and a release date; representatives for Depp, Bruckheimer and Disney did not immediately comment.
- Depp’s potential return follows years of uncertainty after high‑profile legal fights and a recent push back into major studio work, including the upcoming film Ebenezer, which has coincided with renewed studio conversations about bringing him back.
- The move reflects Disney’s effort to reboot a franchise that has earned about $4.5 billion from five films but hit a low point with the 2017 entry, and it follows prior development work that produced at least two different scripts and a toggled Margot Robbie project.