Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has been confirmed, but it’s hard to see this sequel/reboot being as much of a hit without Depp.

The plans for Pirates of the Caribbean were first announced in 2018, with Deadpool’s co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick attached to the project. When they dropped out, the film struggled to find its footing and was delayed even further when Johnny Depp found himself at the center of a very public trial in 2022. It’s now being suggested that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will be more of a reboot than a sequel, which suggests Depp’s involvement may have been reduced or removed. Pirates of the Caribbean can continue without Jack Sparrow, but it’s going to be difficult.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Will Have To Maintain The Franchise’s Impressive Box Office Average

It Won't Be Easy To Maintain The Same Commercial Success

Since Gore Verbinski’s original movie in this popular Disney franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean has been a huge commercial success. The sequels have all performed excellently at the box office, with Dead Man’s Chest grossing over $423 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). The franchise’s third entry, At World’s End, was also an enormous success that pulled in over $309 million, proving beyond any doubt that the success of those first movies wasn’t just a fluke. From there, the franchise has continued to perform consistently well at the box office.

However, it’s going to be very difficult if Depp doesn’t return for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, as he’s been the unique appeal of these movies from the beginning. They’re some of Johnny Depp’s best films, and his performance as the charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow has been the undeniable highlight of this series. If the movie does end up being a reboot of the original, that would also imply that Jack Sparrow’s character will be recast with another actor - and whoever that ends up being, it may not be received well by fans of the original.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Taking So Long To Happen Makes It A Bigger Box Office Risk

It's Been Seven Years Since The Previous Movie

Another huge problem for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is the constant delays that have hurdled the sequel’s development. It’s been seven years since Dead Men Tell No Tales, and much of the excitement surrounding the franchise has likely died down. The most recent sequel was also the franchise’s worst, with critics and audiences agreeing that it marked a new low point for the Pirates series. This could be a real problem for the sixth movie, as it’s likely been too long for a direct sequel, but maybe not long enough for a reboot either.

The seven years since Dead Men Tell No Tales have given audiences plenty of time to reflect on the failure of the most recent installment, and the franchise has undoubtedly been soured for some.

The seven years since Dead Men Tell No Tales have given audiences plenty of time to reflect on the failure of the most recent installment, and the franchise has undoubtedly been soured for some. It would take some serious work to rebuild the series’ image in the public consciousness, and recasting Depp’s character certainly doesn’t seem like the correct route to take. Many stars have also refused to return to Pirates of the Caribbean, which means the sixth movie would be starting from square one - which can’t be good for the box office potential.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Might Be A Hard Sell With Or Without Johnny Depp

The Actor May Not Be Enough To Save The Series

Even if Johnny Depp does want to return for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, the optics for the sequel still aren’t ideal. It’s been far too long, the franchise is arguably at an all-time low, and the actor himself is still trying to reconstruct his public image following a very personal and controversial trial just two years ago. It’s probably not the right time for Depp to make his return to the franchise, but without him, the series seems doomed. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Ultimately, the problem with Pirates of the Caribbean’s sixth movie is that there isn’t a clear audience for the project. Everybody who grew up with Verbinski’s films is now much older and likely wouldn’t be too interested in a reboot, and younger audiences have no reason to care about the franchise because it’s been seven years since the last entry. Disney must go back to square one with Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and find an interesting, original solution that doesn’t rely on nostalgia or returning actors if they want this sequel/reboot to have any hope of succeeding commercially.