After a jury handed Johnny Depp a winning verdict, Disney might be ready to hand the actor back his biggest role in one of their most successful franchises. A former Walt Disney Studios executive believes the actor is poised to return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after emerging victorious over Amber Heard in his $50 million defamation suit.
Hollywood insiders may be split on whether or not the actor can pull off a career rebound, but one former Disney executive is confident that Depp could be asked to return to the Pirates franchise, and much sooner than you might think.
"I absolutely believe post-verdict that 'Pirates' is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Captain Jack back on board," a studio insider told PEOPLE Magazine. "There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture.”
He added: "With [producer] Jerry Bruckheimer riding high on the massive success of Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun: Maverick', there is a huge appetite for bringing back bankable Hollywood stars in massively popular franchises."
According to the mag, another Hollywood insider —who has worked on previous films in the Pirates franchise—believes that it’s “not very likely” that the actor will return “as a star.” The insider explained that Disney will likely make “Pirates 6 with Margot Robbie, or someone similar.”
Margot Robbie has not been confirmed as the franchise’s new lead, but her screen credentials tick all the boxes, making her a logical choice to fill the role of the protagonist in the film series. Franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently told The Sunday Times they are "developing two Pirates scripts — one with her, one without."
The insider says the release of Pirates 6 “likely” won’t happen until 2025 due to production timelines but seems to think Depp could make an appearance in the film—albeit a small one —to see if audiences are ready for the actor's return to the franchise.
The insider seems to think that Robbie could play the daughter of Depp’s character, Captain Jack Sparrow, giving the actor a chance to have a cameo in the film.
Source: People, The Sunday Times