Longtime Pirates of the Caribbean star Geoffrey Rush reflects on the forthcoming reboot leaving out co-star Johnny Depp. Originally kicking off in 2003, the franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide across five separate installments. The franchise has featured numerous talented actors including Depp, Rush, and Kevin McNally who have been mainstays throughout the entire franchise. Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in development, with few confirmed details at the time of writing.

In a conversation with Collider, Rush shares his thoughts on the possibility of Depp not returning for this reboot. The Academy Award winner claims Depp is “irreplaceable”, likening the famous actor to English legend Robert Newton, who famously portrayed Long John Silver in the live adaptation of Treasure Island. Read his full comment below:

Whoever takes over from Johnny, I don’t know what’s gonna happen there. He’s irreplaceable. Jack Sparrow is the new Robert Newton. Early on, we had a chat between Orlando [Bloom] and Johnny and myself, and he was already talking about pop stars like Keith Richards having that kind of visceral identity that you knew. He said, ‘I’m just fascinated that this character, Jack, spends half his life on land and half his life on water. What if he never really gets his sea legs?’

And that’s where that whole war came from. Michael Chekhov, who was a Russian actor, wrote books about the defining moments of creating characters, and people studied that for decades… but I know people like Anthony Hopkins and Jack Nicholson always said, ‘Oh, we all read about Michael Chekhov.’ I went, ‘That was Johnny’s brilliant instinct.’ It’s a whole picture.

What Are The Chances Of Depp Returning In The Pirates of the Caribbean Reboot?

Disney May Be Looking For A Fresh Start

Over the course of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Depp has been front and center of the franchise. Even with other actors delivering noteworthy performances, Depp’s over-the-top and eccentric rendition earned him critical praise and worldwide renown. However, his legal troubles, which included allegations of domestic violence made by ex-wife Amber Heard, made Depp a largely controversial figure and caused Disney to distance themselves from the famous star.

While Depp remains a divisive figure, he maintains a large fanbase who hope to see the Golden Globe winner back playing Jack Sparrow. Earlier in the year, reports suggesting that Disney was looking to replace the famous star with a new lead was met with backlash online, with many stating that the franchise would fail without Depp’s inclusion.

Depp has been a major part of why the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been so successful. However, the franchise has been on a downward trend both commercially and critically. 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales received mostly negative reviews and grossed significantly less than the three previous installments. Disney might likely be looking to change most of the cast, including Depp as well. It, however, remains to be seen how events unfold in the coming months.

Source: Collider