Is Keira Knightley Poised to Rejoin Pirates of the Caribbean?

Keira Knightley is putting her Pirates of the Caribbean compass in a drawer and walking away. And yes, she gave a pretty delightfully odd reason for not even watching her own Pirates movies. Meanwhile, the franchise itself is in a weird place: rumors, reboots, and a possible Jack Sparrow return that everyone keeps talking about but nobody will confirm.

Keira Knightley: no more swashbuckling

While promoting her latest project, The Woman in Cabin 10, Knightley shut the door on Elizabeth Swann for good. At a London screening on September 25, she told People she had a great run, but that chapter is closed. She also explained on Scott Mills's Radio 2 show on Monday why she never really watched her Pirates films in the first place — and it is the most actor thing an actor has ever said.

'I just feel there is too much face. It is just such a lot of face. Really close up, large face. It is just, nobody needs to see that.'

'I think my pirating days are over. I think I definitely spent many years doing that, and, you know, it was amazing, and I am very pleased to have been a part of that, but I suspect my swashbuckling days are done.'

Translation: she is grateful, she had a blast, and she is not coming back. Knightley played Elizabeth across the early run of Pirates movies and has now moved on.

So... is Johnny Depp actually coming back for Pirates 6?

Short answer: maybe, but it is still rumor territory. An insider report from Rob Shuter’s Substack says sources close to the production claim Depp’s return is 'signed, sealed, and happening.' That sounds definitive — except neither Depp nor Disney has said a word on the record. Given the last few years of headlines and legal battles, you can see why everyone is cautious.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is at least publicly open to it, with one big caveat. In August, he told Entertainment Weekly:

'If he likes the way the part is written, I think he would do it. It is all about what is on the page, as we all know.'

Bruckheimer has also said the next Pirates movie he is shepherding is a reboot. He still would not mind Jack Sparrow popping up, but the plan is bigger than one character. On a parallel track, there is another reboot in development written by Christina Hodson and set to star Margot Robbie.

Orlando Bloom is game — if the script delivers

At Fan Expo Chicago in August, Orlando Bloom — Will Turner himself — said he would love to come back if the writing is there and the stars align. He even floated the idea that getting the original crew together again would be the smartest move, while also hoping any new film respects what the first trilogy built.

• Keira Knightley says she is done with Pirates and does not plan to return.
• Johnny Depp’s comeback as Jack Sparrow is heavily rumored via an insider report, but not confirmed by Disney or Depp.
• Producer Jerry Bruckheimer says Depp could return if the script is right; his next Pirates is positioned as a reboot.
• There is a separate reboot developing from writer Christina Hodson, with Margot Robbie attached to star.
• Orlando Bloom is interested in returning, ideally with a reunion of the original cast, as long as the script works and honors the legacy.

Where does that leave us? Knightley is out. Bloom is open. Bruckheimer is rebooting. Robbie has a spin on the horizon. Depp is the big question mark everyone keeps asking about.

If you want a nostalgia-bomb reunion, you might get a little of that — but it sounds like Disney is also steering the ship toward a new direction. In the meantime, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are streaming on Disney+ in the US.