After 9 years: Johnny Depp returns to the hat of Captain Jack Sparrow

Captain Jack Sparrow may not have said his last word, but his next adventure may look completely different from everything we knew. Super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed last night, Sunday, during Disney's D23 event in Anaheim that the studios are in official talks with Johnny Depp regarding his return to the sixth film in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

"We are talking to Johnny, working on a script, and hopefully we will manage to make it happen," Bruckheimer shared in an interview with Deadline magazine.

However, fans of the franchise will have to get used to a new division of roles: according to reports in Hollywood, the iconic character of Sparrow will not be at the center of the plot. Instead, the film is expected to lead the brand in a new direction and focus on a new main character played by Margot Robbie, while Depp will join forces in a supporting role and provide an anchor of continuity.

This change is particularly surprising against the backdrop of Robbie's statements in the past. As recalled, about four years ago the actress told Vanity Fair magazine that the female project being developed for her was cancelled by Disney. Now it seems that the studios decided not to shelve the idea, but to combine the worlds — not an isolated spin-off, but a comprehensive refresh for the parent series.

For Disney, this is an attempt to breathe new life into a franchise that has hit rough waters: the five previous films grossed a total of about 4.5 billion dollars worldwide, but the last film ("Dead Men Tell No Tales", 2017) recorded the lowest earnings in the series (795.9 million dollars) alongside lukewarm reviews. Bruckheimer's statement that the film will function as a plot reboot fits well with passing the baton to Robbie.

Depp's possible return also marks a personal full circle. After the high-profile defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard — which ended in his legal victory but took a heavy professional toll on him — his future in the franchise seemed slim. Bruckheimer, on the other hand, continued to support him publicly: "He created the character of Captain Jack — it wasn't on the page. He is a friend and an amazing artist, and I would love to see him return."

Although the road to the set is still long, the very dialogue marks a fascinating Hollywood compromise: Disney gets back the star who brought it to this point, Depp puts on the pirate hat again, and the audience gets a fresh story led by one of the biggest stars in the world.