Orlando Bloom has sparked excitement among fans by hinting at a potential Johnny Depp return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6, raising questions about whether the original cast might reunite. Rumors have circulated since the last film in 2017, but the future of the sea-faring franchise, which has followed Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Jack Sparrow, remains uncertain amid Disney’s ongoing development of new projects.
Talk of a Sixth Installment Stirs Hope Among Fans
Bloom, who appeared as Will Turner in four of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies alongside Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp, most recently returned in Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017. The end of that film teased a possible comeback for the core trio—Will, Elizabeth, and Captain Jack Sparrow—as they seemingly face a new threat from former Flying Dutchman captain Davy Jones in a possible sixth film. Despite the hopeful setup, work on Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has stalled, with Disney weighing its options for the next chapter.
Addressing developments for a new movie on Britain’s This Morning, Orlando Bloom commented,
“There’s been all kinds of things,”
—Orlando Bloom. When pressed for clarity about his involvement or concrete plans for the franchise’s future, he added,
“Who knows? There’s been talk [of a sixth movie]. I can’t say anything at the moment, because I really don’t know.”
—Orlando Bloom.
The likelihood of the original cast returning as an ensemble remains a subject of speculation. Bloom commented further on negotiations and his own hopes:
“I think they’re trying to work out what it would all look like,”
—Orlando Bloom. He continued,
“I, personally, think it would be great to get the band back together. I think that would be great. But there are always different ideas, so we’ll see where it lands.”
—Orlando Bloom.
Multiple New Pirates Projects Underway at Disney
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently confirmed that Disney has two separate Pirates movies moving through development. One project will reboot the franchise and is being written by Jeff Nathanson, who also worked on Dead Men Tell No Tales and Mufasa: The Lion King. The other project is a female-led spinoff that would feature Margot Robbie, and is being scripted by Christina Hodson. Both projects signal that Disney is aiming to refresh the Pirates brand with new storylines and characters.
The previous film in the series, Dead Men Tell No Tales, introduced the next generation by focusing on Will and Elizabeth’s son, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), and Captain Barbossa’s daughter, Carina (Kaya Scodelario). As of now, the indication from the franchise’s producer is that a sixth Pirates movie is more likely to start fresh rather than directly continue the original cast’s storyline. Bruckheimer suggested to ComicBook,
“that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.”
—Jerry Bruckheimer.
Complicated Prospects for Depp and Knightley’s Return
The possibility of a Johnny Depp return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 remains clouded by his legal battles and public fallout. During his 2022 defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp revealed that Disney had severed its relationship with him, removing him from consideration for Pirates 6 following the publication of Heard’s 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post. Depp ultimately prevailed in that lawsuit, but his future with the blockbuster franchise is not guaranteed. Bruckheimer, reflecting in a 2024 interview, emphasized his own preference:
“It’s a reboot, but if it was up to me, he would be in it.”
—Jerry Bruckheimer.
Keira Knightley, who portrayed Elizabeth Swann in four of the five films, has also cast doubt on her involvement in any further Pirates adventures. In late 2023, she shared that she would no longer be working in franchise films, citing that extensive shoots abroad would disrupt her children’s lives. She described her relationship with the series as emotionally complex, saying,
“It’s a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time. I was seen as sh-t because of [the Pirates films], and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for,”
—Keira Knightley. She added,
“They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they’re a very confused place in my head.”
—Keira Knightley.
Knightley last appeared in a brief cameo at the end of Dead Men Tell No Tales, which concluded with Bloom’s Will Turner being freed from his curse as the captain of the Flying Dutchman. Bloom later addressed Knightley’s feelings about her time in the franchise during a conversation with Entertainment Weekly. He described the period as transformative:
“It was such a huge moment in time that is almost like… it feels almost like another lifetime now. But it certainly was unique and, you know, I’m always grateful. But I definitely understand where Keira was coming from, and she does wonderful things.… I have a lot of positive takeaways.”
—Orlando Bloom.
What Lies Ahead for the Franchise?
With the spotlight on possible changes, Disney appears determined to reinvigorate the Pirates brand for a new generation. The options on the table include both a hard reboot and a female-centered spinoff featuring Margot Robbie, while the original actors remain at the heart of public discussion about the future of the series. The allure of seeing the classic trio of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) reunite continues to spark fan excitement. At the same time, the franchise’s next steps will depend on both logistical possibilities and the willingness of its stars to return.
The outcome of Disney’s plans for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 remains to be seen, with the creative team weighing the advantages of old faces versus new storylines. For now, Bloom’s comments have reignited interest and hope among fans, and all eyes will be on the studio’s next move to see whether the original cast, and especially Johnny Depp, will play a part in the next chapter of the iconic saga.
