Disney is once again preparing to chart a course back to the Caribbean, with fresh updates emerging about the long-gestating reboot of its multibillion-dollar Pirates of the Caribbean franchise—and, more notably, who might still be on board when the sails are raised.Credit: DisneyMore than two decades have passed since Johnny Depp first swaggered onto the screen as Captain Jack Sparrow, a performance that didn’t just anchor a movie but helped define an era of blockbuster filmmaking. Now, as Disney explores a new iteration of the franchise, questions remain about whether audiences have truly seen the last of Sparrow.Depp’s introduction in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl transformed what was once considered a risky theme park adaptation into an unexpected global hit. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film leaned heavily on Depp’s eccentric, unpredictable energy—an approach that reportedly raised eyebrows inside Disney before proving to be its secret weapon. Jack Sparrow quickly evolved into the emotional and commercial engine of the series.Credit: DisneyWhat followed was one of the most lucrative runs in modern studio history. Sequels arrived at a steady clip, expanding the mythology while cementing Depp’s place at the center of it all: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2010), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Alongside him, Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner gave the franchise its romantic core and long-running emotional stakes.As box office totals climbed, so did Depp’s compensation. By the time Dead Men Tell No Tales sailed into theaters, the actor reportedly earned $90 million, underscoring just how intertwined Jack Sparrow had become with Disney’s brand. But the tide soon turned.Credit: DisneyDepp’s career momentum slowed dramatically amid a series of highly publicized legal battles involving his ex-wife, Amber Heard. In 2020, Depp lost a libel case in the U.K. against The Sun and News Group Newspapers LTD over allegations of domestic abuse. Justice Andrew Nicol ruled that the claims were “substantially true,” a decision that reverberated across the entertainment industry.The fallout was swift. Disney severed ties with Depp, and Warner Bros. replaced him in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. His role as Gellert Grindelwald was recast with Mads Mikkelsen for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), a film that struggled both critically and commercially, prompting the studio to step away from future installments.Credit: Warner Bros.The saga escalated further in 2022 when Depp and Heard faced off in a televised defamation trial in Virginia. Depp sued for $50 million over a Washington Post op-ed, while Heard countersued for $100 million. After six weeks, the jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, later reduced, while Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages.The trial dominated headlines and social media, eclipsing discussion of either actor’s creative output. During testimony, Depp was asked whether he would ever return to Pirates under any circumstances. His response—referencing “$300 million and a million alpacas”—suggested that the bridge had been thoroughly burned.Credit: DisneyYet Hollywood history is filled with unlikely reconciliations. In the months following the verdict, speculation grew that Depp might be open to revisiting the role that made him a global icon. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has repeatedly confirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 remains in development and has openly expressed interest in bringing Depp back into the fold.While Disney has stayed characteristically quiet, Bruckheimer recently hinted that the next chapter won’t be a clean break from the past. Speaking with Screen Rant’s Ash Crossan while promoting F1 (2025), he suggested the new film will blend familiar faces with a fresh approach.Credit: DisneyJerry Bruckheimer: We’re working on a screenplay. Hopefully we’ll get it right–and then we’ll make it. We really want to make it, that’s for sure.ScreenRant: A continuation or something new?Bruckheimer: It’ll be a new take on it.ScreenRant: New take, new actors?Bruckheimer: Well, not all new actors. We’ll have some back.ScreenRant: Okay…Bruckheimer: I’m not going to tell you which ones–you’ll have to guess.That tease aligns with other recent comments from franchise veterans. Earlier this month, Orlando Bloom addressed the possibility of returning as Will Turner during an appearance on UK talk show This Morning, striking a hopeful but measured tone.“There’s been all kinds of things. Who knows? There’s been talk. I can’t say anything at the moment, because I really don’t know,” Bloom shared. “They’re definitely… I think they’re trying to work out what it would all look like. I, personally, think it would be great to get the band back together. That would be great. But there are always different ideas, so we’ll see where it lands.Credit: DisneyBehind the scenes, Disney is reportedly weighing two parallel projects: Pirates 6 and a separate spinoff once envisioned around “Wuthering Heights” star Margot Robbie. While Robbie previously suggested her film had stalled, Bruckheimer has since clarified that it hasn’t been scrapped—though the mainline sequel is taking precedence.That said, a more recent update reveals that Bruckheimer is facing an internal battle. The tenured producer recently claimed that both Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and Top Gun 3, starring Tom Cruise, are neck and neck in production. However, Bruckheimer shared that the Cruise vehicle is just inching ahead, meaning it could be a while yet before Pirates 6 gets out of the dock.Credit: Paramount PicturesProduction delays don’t stop the rumor mill, though. An update from The DisInsider shares that the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may move forward with Jack Sparrow’s son as the lead. Prior to that launch, the outlet claims the Pirates of the Caribbean series will be co-led by Johnny Depp and Margot Robbie, adding further mystery to the production.“I believe Disney wants the next movie to be Johnny Depp-led alongside Margot Robbie, with hopes that future installments in the franchise can continue on with Robbie’s character and quite possibly the son of Sparrow,” The DisInsider wrote.Credit: DC StudiosVariety reported in late 2024 that “nothing has been ruled out” when it comes to Depp’s involvement, even if the upcoming film functions as a soft reboot. In early 2025, reports surfaced that Disney had quietly begun preparing a Hollywood soundstage for Pirates 6, reigniting speculation that legacy characters could return in some form.Any deal bringing Depp back would almost certainly be expensive. His past salaries underscore the scale of Disney’s investment, and expectations would be high for a return engagement. At the same time, the theatrical landscape has shifted. Recent underperformers, including 2025’s Disney’s Snow White and Captain America: Brave New World, have made studios more cautious about ballooning budgets.Credit: DisneyFor now, the compass points toward a future that blends nostalgia with reinvention. Whether Captain Jack Sparrow is part of that journey remains to be seen—but the door, once seemingly closed, appears to be cracked open even more.How do you feel Disney should proceed with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!The post New ‘Pirates 6’ Casting Information Surfaces as Jack Sparrow’s Son Reportedly Leading Future Franchise appeared first on Inside the Magic.