He did not say that Depp had agreed to reprise the role. Earlier comments reported by People also indicated that Depp’s decision would depend on whether he liked the way the part was written, while Bruckheimer said the project still needed the right screenplay.

That makes the script the project’s key condition. Until Disney and Depp reach an agreement—and until the screenplay is considered ready—the film remains in development rather than active production.

Margot Robbie may be the new franchise lead

The next Pirates film is not currently described as simply another Jack Sparrow adventure. According to sources cited by Deadline, the continuation is expected to focus on a protagonist played by Margot Robbie, with Sparrow serving as a side character.

That would give Disney a way to keep Depp’s most recognizable character connected to the series without making him the sole center of a sixth film. Other reports similarly describe Robbie as a possible lead and Depp as a supporting or legacy presence, though Disney has not formally announced that structure.

In practical terms, the reported plan looks more like an evolution of the franchise than a conventional sequel built entirely around Sparrow. Robbie could anchor a new era, while Depp’s appearance would connect it to the five earlier films.

Who is writing Pirates of the Caribbean 6?

Jeff Nathanson has been identified in earlier reporting as the writer working on the reboot screenplay. Nathanson wrote Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth film in the series, and Bruckheimer previously praised his work on the reboot project.

The writing history is not completely straightforward. The franchise has gone through multiple development versions and writers over time, and earlier reporting also linked other screenwriters to proposed versions of the sixth film.

The safest conclusion is that Nathanson is the writer most directly connected to the current reboot reporting, but the screenplay is still in development and the final credited writing team could change.

What a return could mean for Johnny Depp

A confirmed return as Jack Sparrow would be a highly visible mainstream-studio role for Depp. The character is his defining commercial franchise part, so an agreement would represent more than a cameo: it would reconnect him with one of Disney’s largest global properties.

But it is too early to call the D23 update a completed Hollywood comeback. The available reporting establishes talks, not a deal, and makes Depp’s participation dependent on the screenplay and negotiations.

If Depp returns in a supporting role, the arrangement could also signal a more limited comeback strategy. He would benefit from the visibility of a major franchise while allowing the film to establish a different central character.

What it means for Disney and the franchise

For Disney, the reported approach balances familiarity with reinvention. Jack Sparrow remains the series’ most recognizable figure, while a Margot Robbie-led story could give the studio a new protagonist and a broader direction.

That matters because the five-film franchise has earned roughly $4.5 billion worldwide, according to reports citing its box-office performance. The commercial history gives Disney a strong reason to preserve the property’s identity, but it does not guarantee that another installment will be made—or that the next film will repeat the earlier films’ success.

The central creative question is therefore not simply whether Depp returns. It is whether Disney can use Sparrow’s legacy without making the new film feel like a repeat of the earlier formula.

The bottom line

Bruckheimer confirmed that talks with Johnny Depp are underway and that a screenplay is being developed. The strongest reporting points to Margot Robbie as the likely new franchise lead, with Depp potentially returning as a supporting Jack Sparrow, while Jeff Nathanson is the writer most closely associated with the current reboot script.

For now, every major element remains conditional: Depp’s deal, Robbie’s role, the screenplay, the film’s title, and its release plans. The project is moving forward in development, but Disney has not yet confirmed the Pirates of the Caribbean future that fans are hoping to see.

He did not say that Depp had agreed to reprise the role. Earlier comments reported by People also indicated that Depp’s decision would depend on whether he liked the way the part was written, while Bruckheimer said the project still needed the right screenplay.

That makes the script the project’s key condition. Until Disney and Depp reach an agreement—and until the screenplay is considered ready—the film remains in development rather than active production.

Margot Robbie may be the new franchise lead

The next Pirates film is not currently described as simply another Jack Sparrow adventure. According to sources cited by Deadline, the continuation is expected to focus on a protagonist played by Margot Robbie, with Sparrow serving as a side character.

That would give Disney a way to keep Depp’s most recognizable character connected to the series without making him the sole center of a sixth film. Other reports similarly describe Robbie as a possible lead and Depp as a supporting or legacy presence, though Disney has not formally announced that structure.

In practical terms, the reported plan looks more like an evolution of the franchise than a conventional sequel built entirely around Sparrow. Robbie could anchor a new era, while Depp’s appearance would connect it to the five earlier films.

Who is writing Pirates of the Caribbean 6?

Jeff Nathanson has been identified in earlier reporting as the writer working on the reboot screenplay. Nathanson wrote Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth film in the series, and Bruckheimer previously praised his work on the reboot project.

The writing history is not completely straightforward. The franchise has gone through multiple development versions and writers over time, and earlier reporting also linked other screenwriters to proposed versions of the sixth film.

The safest conclusion is that Nathanson is the writer most directly connected to the current reboot reporting, but the screenplay is still in development and the final credited writing team could change.

What a return could mean for Johnny Depp

A confirmed return as Jack Sparrow would be a highly visible mainstream-studio role for Depp. The character is his defining commercial franchise part, so an agreement would represent more than a cameo: it would reconnect him with one of Disney’s largest global properties.

But it is too early to call the D23 update a completed Hollywood comeback. The available reporting establishes talks, not a deal, and makes Depp’s participation dependent on the screenplay and negotiations.

If Depp returns in a supporting role, the arrangement could also signal a more limited comeback strategy. He would benefit from the visibility of a major franchise while allowing the film to establish a different central character.

What it means for Disney and the franchise

For Disney, the reported approach balances familiarity with reinvention. Jack Sparrow remains the series’ most recognizable figure, while a Margot Robbie-led story could give the studio a new protagonist and a broader direction.

That matters because the five-film franchise has earned roughly $4.5 billion worldwide, according to reports citing its box-office performance. The commercial history gives Disney a strong reason to preserve the property’s identity, but it does not guarantee that another installment will be made—or that the next film will repeat the earlier films’ success.

The central creative question is therefore not simply whether Depp returns. It is whether Disney can use Sparrow’s legacy without making the new film feel like a repeat of the earlier formula.

The bottom line

Bruckheimer confirmed that talks with Johnny Depp are underway and that a screenplay is being developed. The strongest reporting points to Margot Robbie as the likely new franchise lead, with Depp potentially returning as a supporting Jack Sparrow, while Jeff Nathanson is the writer most closely associated with the current reboot script.

For now, every major element remains conditional: Depp’s deal, Robbie’s role, the screenplay, the film’s title, and its release plans. The project is moving forward in development, but Disney has not yet confirmed the Pirates of the Caribbean future that fans are hoping to see.