Eight years since the last installment in the franchise, the big question for Pirates of the Caribbean fans is: why is Pirates of the Caribbean 6 taking so long? Since 2003, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has released a movie every couple of years, grossing over $4.5 billion worldwide at the box office, earning its fame as one of the top 20 highest-grossing film series. The last movie in the franchise, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales, released in 2017 and, going by previous release date trends, that means Pirates of the Caribbean 6 should be on the horizon soon.

However, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has been on rocky ground for quite some time. There are plenty of storylines and characters another Pirates of the Caribbean movie would need to consider in order for the franchise to bounce back after its long hiatus, especially with the most recent movies’ dwindling Rotten Tomatoes scores. Furthermore, controversy surrounding Captain Jack Sparrow’s Johnny Depp has complicated the franchise’s future, with many calling into question if the actor should return. Therefore, with so much to consider, it makes sense that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 updates have been rather slow over the years.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Has Been In Development Since At Least 2019

Updates On The POTC Franchise Have Been Confusing

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has been in development since at least 2019. Originally, it was reported that Disney were planning to shoot ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales and the sixth movie back-to-back, with confirmation of Carina Smyth’s Kaya Scodelario and director Joachim Rønning returning. In 2020, franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer also stated that the script was nearly finished, although no further news was shared. However, Jerry Bruckheimer recently updated Pirates of the Caribbean’s script timeline in an interview with ComicBook.com, sharing that it will be finished shortly and expressing hope for Disney’s acceptance. Check out Bruckheimer’s comment below:

“We have a script that’s being written right now. Hopefully it’ll come in in a month or so, and it’ll be as good as I think it will be. So let’s hope that Disney likes it and they give us an opportunity to make it.”

Due to delays caused by controversy involving Johnny Depp and his defamation case as well as the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, there have been mixed updates for another Pirates of the Caribbean movie following the fifth movie’s ending. As a result of the repeated script updates, it appears that previous Pirates of the Caribbean 6 scripts have not lived up to Disney’s expectations for the franchise. However, Jerry Bruckheimer’s new update delivers hope that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will finally be greenlit, as the producer cites that “it’ll be as good as I think it’ll be.”

Interestingly, in an earlier ComicBook.com interview in March 2024, producer Bruckheimer also confirmed the sixth film would be a reboot, explaining “we’re gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.” The “certain actors” Bruckheimer is most likely referring to is Johnny Depp, as the actor has had a lot of behind-the-scenes controversy in recent years. A reboot has long been rumored due to the franchise’s hiatus and Johnny Depp’s uncertain return, but Bruckheimer’s new update confirms Pirates of the Caribbean 6’s reboot premise, should Disney accept the new script.

Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Future Became Uncertain Amidst Johnny Depp’s Behind-The-Scenes Controversy

Depp Made His Position On Returning To The POTC Franchise Very Clear

As a lead role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Johnny Depp’s involvement as the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the main reasons the movies have been so successful. Therefore, when Johnny Depp became involved in a defamation suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, who had insinuated that he was abusive, the controversy caused problems for the franchise, allegedly leading to Disney cutting ties with the actor. As a result, Depp claimed in court that he would not return to Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Variety quoted the exchange between Johnny Depp and Heard’s attorney below:

“The fact is, Mr. Depp, if Disney came to you with $300 million and a million alpacas, nothing on this earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film? Correct?”

Depp answered: “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”

This public comment about the famous role has caused a lot of problems for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 as it appeared Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow would not return, which meant the franchise’s main selling point was lost. Pirates of the Caribbean 6 was reportedly in the works at the time, although it had not yet been greenlit, with Depp describing the movie in “dangle mode.” However, Depp’s statement put the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film on hold, with Disney considering other options for the franchise’s future, including a reboot, which has now been confirmed by Jerry Bruckheimer.

What Has Been Said About Johnny Depp’s Return To Pirates Of The Caribbean

POTC Producer’s Comments Suggest Depp’s Return Is Still Possible

With Pirates of the Caribbean 6 supposedly moving ahead as a reboot instead of a sequel, it does leave many wondering if Johnny Depp will ever make a reappearance in the franchise. His previous comment during the 2022 trial demonstrated that the answer was a resounding “no,” but producer Jerry Bruckheimer has expressed that he is still open for Johnny Depp to return to Pirates of the Caribbean. Many feel the franchise would not be the same without Captain Jack Sparrow, and Depp’s future involvement is still uncertain, especially as there were allegedly two scripts written just in case.

With a potential two scripts in the works, “Nothing has been ruled out” in regard to Johnny Depp’s possible return to the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. Furthermore, a source close to Depp told PEOPLE in 2023 that “Anything is possible. If it’s the right project, he’ll do it.” While he has not directly addressed these claims, meaning it is still unclear whether Johnny Depp has changed his mind years on from the famous defamation trial, it does offer some hope that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is not completely off the table for the Captain Jack Sparrow actor.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Is Not The Only POTC Movie In The Cards

Margot Robbie’s Movie & 1 Other POTC Spinoff Are Still Happening

Despite audiences eagerly waiting for the highly anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean 6, there are actually a few projects in the franchise that are in development. In 2020, it was announced that there would be a female-centric Pirates of the Caribbean spinoff movie featuring Margot Robbie as the lead role. However, there have been very few updates on the project since its initial announcement, leading to rumors that the movie had been canceled. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has since debunked the cancelation rumors, claiming Margot Robbie’s movie is still going ahead, but Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has taken precedence.

There have been numerous Pirates of the Caribbean sequels and reboots rumored over the years, and their production status is ever-changing, causing a lot of confusion. Yet, there appears to be a total of three confirmed Pirates of the Caribbean projects in development, according to Bruckheimer. With so much at stake to continue the famous franchise, and the uncertainty of Johnny Depp’s involvement in Pirates of the Caribbean 6, it makes sense these Pirates of the Caribbean projects are taking a long time, especially as they need to be done right to rectify the franchise’s falling Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Source: ComicBook.com, PEOPLE, Variety.