Back in the Saddle? Johnny Depp Might Set Sail Again as Jack Sparrow

There are whispers on the sea breeze that beloved scoundrel Jack Sparrow, embodied by none other than Johnny Depp, might return for another rollicking adventure in a sixth iteration of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, according to series producer and Hollywood heavyweight, Jerry Bruckheimer.

In a recent tête-à-tête with Entertainment Weekly, Bruckheimer played the part of a modern day Oracle, confirming that he has spoken to Depp about a new swashbuckling saga. We have the feeling this means the rum's not all gone just yet. As he put it, "If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it. It’s all about what’s on the page… We are still working on a screenplay. We want to make it. We just got to get the right screenplay. We haven’t quite gotten there yet, but we’re close."

From 2003 to 2017, Depp sashayed his way across the box offices of five "Pirates" movies. With cumulative booty, err… earnings, of more than $650 million worldwide, it's safe to say this ship wasn't sinking anytime soon. In fact, two installments-"Dead Man’s Chest" (2006) and "On Stranger Tides" (2011)-jumped clean over the $1 billion mark. All these treasures notwithstanding, Depp’s status with the Disney cavalcade has been as dicey as navigating the Bermuda Triangle following his tumultuous legal battles and 2022 libel trial against Amber Heard. But hey, Depp is gearing for a Hollywood comeback, and in that spirit, rumors swirl around possible overstures of reembarkation from both Disney and Depp.

The journey to a penning another chapter in the "Pirates" saga is not unlike a trip to World's End. In the summer of 2020, whispers had it that Disney was dabbling in new "Pirates" voyages with two distinct storylines-one a reboot helmed by Margot Robbie and another continuing the original line, penned by Craig Mazin and Ted Elliott. Although Robbie's concept faced high seas, with her claim that Disney wasn't quite keen on a "female-led" undertaking, Bruckheimer maintained that there's room for multiple "Pirates" series. Because who doesn't want more Pirates, right?

Now speaking of our regular programming, Bruckheimer spilled more tea last summer, revealing that Jeff Nathanson, the scribe who penned "Dead Men Tell No Tales" (2017), was on board for the latest venture. "He’s cracked it," Bruckheimer mentioned about Nathanson’s script from that time. "He’s got an amazing third act. We just gotta clean up the first and second and then we’ll get there. But he wrote a great, great third act."

It's still a mystery whether Nathanson's script constitutes a refreshed version of Mazin's or is a completely original piece. Adding another twist, Mazin had previously revealed that his proposed "Pirates 6" screenplay was so peculiar he was surprised Disney gave it the green flag! Well, with pirates, expect the unexpected.

In the same breezy chat, Bruckheimer also expressed a pretty warm welcome for Depp's return, saying, "It’s a reboot, but if it was up to me, [Johnny] would be in it. I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist and he’s a unique look. He created Captain Jack…"

So there it is, mateys. While Depp's last venture was "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," a 2018 release, his roller coaster past raises eyebrows about his return. So can he sail the seven seas once again as Jack Sparrow or is he walking the plank? Watch this space for updates, and remember, "The sea is unpredictable. So are the rumors."