Johnny Depp established himself as a household name following Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Depp spoke to Julian Roman in a September 2005 interview with blackfilm.com to talk about his role as the pirate Jack Sparrow:
With every character, once you click in and really know the guy, you become very close. You love him, you enjoy playing him. It’s always difficult at the end, the week to ten days before wrap. You can feel and hear the clock ticking. You then go through this really nasty, odd depression afterwards. There’s a separation anxiety. You’ve been this person for a pretty good length of time. Then he’s gone. For me, with Captain Jack, I had a sneaking suspicion that I’d see him again. When they said they’d like to do two and three together, I was all for it. Selfishly, I wanted top be the guy again, to play him.
At the time of the interview, Depp was promoting Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, a cult classic today. Ever since the interview, Johnny Depp went on to star in four more Pirates of the Caribbean films, each one breaking the bank.
What Johnny Depp’s 20-Year-Old Comment Reveals About Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow’s impact on pop culture is not understated, with every child wanting to dress as the pirate for Halloween and every family putting the film on for a comfort watch. The first Pirates of the Caribbean film was something unique to audiences and a bold move by Disney to incorporate horror into their filmography. Here are key details of the franchise.
Johnny Depp’s comments reveal a close connection to the role, and that isn’t surprising given that he is known for embodying the role to perfection. Recasting the role of Jack Sparrow is one of those scenarios that sounds nightmare-inducing for producers, because nobody else can be pictured playing the drunk and funny pirate with an accent.
From his body language to the physicality of Jack Sparrow, Depp’s comments prove that his role was internationally acclaimed, strengthening his bond to the Disney franchise. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3 were major successes despite receiving lukewarm reviews, and fans want more and more.
Jack Sparrow Needs a Similar Pirates 6 Farewell Like Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa
Marvel handled the passing of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in a heartfelt tribute in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Much like T’Challa, Jack Sparrow is a beloved character who has graced our screens for years and years. Depp himself said that he wanted to give his character a good farewell (via Variety):
I, in fact, had been approached to take part in writing Pirates 6… my feeling was that these characters should be able to have their proper goodbye, as it were. A franchise can only last for so long, and there’s a way to end a franchise like that.
And I thought that the characters deserved… to end their franchise on a very good note. I planned on continuing until it was time to stop.
As of October 2025, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 remains in active development as a reboot with no official release date set. Franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer spoke to Johnny Depp regarding a return to the franchise after Disney unceremoniously sacked him after the Amber Heard allegations. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said:
If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it. I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist, and he’s a unique look. He created Captain Jack.
Will Johnny Depp see a major Hollywood comeback as the iconic Jack Sparrow? Only time will tell if Johnny Depp is willing to make amends with Disney and is happy with the script offered to him.
What’s your favorite Pirates of the Caribbean film? Let us know in the comments.
All Pirates of the Caribbean films are streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.
