Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most successful and beloved franchises in the world with over $4.5 billion in box office earnings. However, the series was left in disarray after the franchise's main actor, Johnny Depp, ran into legal troubles with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Following Depp's recent court victory over his ex-wife, fans of the franchise have requested his return to one of his most iconic roles as Captain Jack Sparrow in the film series.
During a recent interview with AP Entertainment, the franchise's long-time producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, commented on a possible Depp return in a future installment and stated the next film is still in the works. In his words, "Nothing's definitive yet, but we continue to take little baby steps getting towards a screenplay." While this isn't exactly the news that Depp fans will be wishing to hear, it is more positive than Bruckheimer's former comments on the topic.
In 2020, there were reports that Disney was working on a female-led spinoff of the franchise that will see Margot Robbie star as the lead character. While Bruckheimer stated in May that they are still talking to Robbie about a film, the actress cast doubts on the possibility when she stated her doubts that Disney is truly interested in the project. As a result, a sixth installment of the franchise with Depp potentially reprising his role is the last hope that fans of the franchise have of seeing anything from the series anytime soon.