‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’ Won’t Involve Franchise’s Key Member

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As a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, I just heard some news that’s a little disappointing. Gore Verbinski, the director who really made the first three movies – The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End – won’t be back for the sixth installment. He already sat out the last two, On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales, and honestly, those movies just didn’t have the same spark. They were action-packed, sure, but they lacked the cleverness and memorable characters that made the originals so great. It’s a shame he’s not returning; those earlier films really benefited from his vision.

While promoting his new film, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, director Rob Verbinski shared his thoughts on the future of the Pirates franchise with ScreenRant, and his outlook wasn’t very encouraging.

I truly wish them well. I’ve given it my all – I put in three attempts, and it was a valuable learning experience. It feels like we’re at a critical point, where things could easily fall apart. Once you master a skill, it loses some of its excitement or challenge. Ultimately, there’s never enough time to share all the stories that deserve to be told.

During Gore Verbinski’s three Pirates of the Caribbean films, Johnny Depp created the definitive Captain Jack Sparrow, navigating adventures against memorable villains like Davy Jones, Captain Barbossa, and Lord Beckett. These films were massive hits for Disney, earning over $2.6 billion worldwide and receiving multiple Academy Award nominations. Now that Depp has chosen not to return, Disney should look for another director with a diverse background, just as they did with Verbinski. Before The Curse of the Black Pearl, Verbinski had directed comedies, crime films, and horror movies. Alternatively, it would be exciting to see Robert Eggers take on the franchise.

The Head-scratching Problem ‘Pirates 6’ Faces


Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Orlando Bloom has pointed out the big question facing the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise: will Disney bring back Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, himself as Will Turner, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Turner? Or will they reimagine Captain Jack with a new actor, potentially a woman? There was speculation that Margot Robbie might be considered for the role at one point.

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In attendance at Fan Expo Chicago last summer, Bloom told the crowd regarding another Pirates:

As a critic, I always say it all starts with the script. If the writing is strong, you’ve got a foundation for something truly special. And honestly, when it comes to a potential reunion, I’d be thrilled to see the original cast return. I really believe getting everyone back on board is the key to making it work – if they’re all interested, of course.

Basically, if the writing was really strong – and it would be best if everyone agreed – then we should go all in. The big question is how to make a new version work. They’re considering whether to introduce a female lead who’s similar to the original main character, but it’s still up in the air and nobody’s decided yet.

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2026-02-01 18:35