PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Star Johnny Depp Not Returning; Reportedly Walking Off The Plank As Jack Sparrow

Following the lackluster domestic performance of Dead Men Tell No Tales (it performed well overseas), it was uncertain what Disney would do with the iconic property. With the arrival of Deadpool screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, fans are wondering what, if anything, will carry over from the previous five installments.

Interestingly, The Daily Mail is reporting that Johnny Depp has been cut out of the series' future, with an apparent confirmation from Curse of the Black Pearl screenwriter Stuart Beattie. After being asked if Depp is finished with the franchise, the creative nodded, implying his exit. He then expressed gratefulness for the star's influence on the franchise:

I think he's had a great run. Obviously, he's made that character his own and it's become the character he's most famous for now. . . I think Jack Sparrow will be his legacy. It's the only character he's played five times, it's the character he dresses up in to visit children in hospitals, it's what he'll be remembered for.

At the end of the latest installment, the return of Orlando Bloon, Keira Knightley and Bill Nighy's Davy Jones was heavily implied for the next film. Dead Men Tell No Tales also positioned Kaya Scodelario and Titans' Brenton Thwaites as leads going forward. It is unknown whether they will be reprising their roles, but the return of all five would be welcome by fans. 

Pirates has always relied on Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, with his star power fueling the franchise's stability overseas, but narratively, the character was close to useless in the latest film. Without him would the franchise still succeed? Most likely, but if we have learned anything lately, properties do not always ensure box office success. Even Lucasfilm, which was thought to be infallible, found box office failure with Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ultimately, a franchise is nothing without its core characters, therefore the prominent return of the original cast (minus Depp) is the right way forward for a reboot.

.