Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed at D23 that he is in talks with Johnny Depp about a possible return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the next Pirates of the Caribbean instalment. "We're talking with Johnny, we're working on a script and we hope we can make this happen," Bruckheimer said.
According to sources close to the project, the film will not focus solely on Sparrow's adventures but will evolve towards a new protagonist played by Margot Robbie, with Sparrow in a supporting role. It is a reimagining of the franchise that seeks to give it a new direction.
The last film in the saga, "Dead Men Tell No Tales" from 2017, was the lowest-grossing with 795.9 million dollars worldwide. The five films in Disney's franchise have grossed a total of 4.5 billion dollars at the global box office.
On another matter, Bruckheimer opposed Paramount's plans to leave California, the state where it faces an antitrust case. "We want to keep it here. It's unfortunate that it's surrounded by this kind of political circle, which is a disgrace, and we hope they resolve it, that they stay here and that the business be healthier," the producer said.
Bruckheimer has been a vocal supporter of Paramount's corporate plans, expressing confidence in the company's leadership to make the right decisions for the benefit of the film industry.