Captain Jack Sparrow might be preparing to sail again, and the possibility of a Pirates of the Caribbean reunion is back in discussion. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed in August 2026 that discussions with Johnny Depp were underway, while Depp recently expressed interest in returning if the franchise could deliver a satisfying conclusion. Now, On Stranger Tides actor Sam Claflin has also revealed that he’d love to reunite with Depp. With several characters still having unfinished stories, we’ve picked seven actors whose return could give Pirates of the Caribbean 6 a connection to the earlier films.
7. Kaya Scodelario as Carina Barbossa
Kaya Scodelario joined the franchise in Dead Men Tell No Tales as Carina Smyth, an astronomer whose family history became one of the movie’s major revelations. She eventually discovered that Captain Hector Barbossa was her father, only to lose him moments later when he sacrificed himself to save her. That ending established Carina’s connection to the franchise’s pirates, but the film never explored what she might do after learning the truth about her father.
Bringing Scodelario back could allow Carina to investigate her father’s hidden history, perhaps uncovering treasures or enemies that Barbossa left behind. Her scientific approach to a world dominated by supernatural curses would also contrast with Jack Sparrow’s unpredictable instincts. There has been no confirmed announcement of Scodelario returning, but Carina could connect the characters from the older movies with a new generation of adventurers.
6. Sam Claflin as Philip Swift
Sam Claflin’s Philip Swift appeared in On Stranger Tides as a missionary who developed an unlikely romantic connection with the mermaid Syrena. Their story ended ambiguously when Syrena carried the wounded Philip underwater, leaving audiences uncertain about his ultimate fate. Unlike several other supporting characters, Philip never received a definitive resolution, so a sequel could pick up his story without having to reverse an established ending.
In a November 9 interview with ComicBook, Claflin expressed interest in returning and working with Depp again. He even suggested that Philip might have transformed into some kind of underwater creature or become a pirate after experiencing heartbreak. Neither possibility is an actual storyline in development, but Claflin’s comments show that he’s open to playing a different version of Philip. We’d be interested in seeing what happened to the character after his encounter with Syrena, particularly since the franchise hasn’t returned to its mermaid mythology in much detail.
5. Penélope Cruz as Angelica
Penélope Cruz played Angelica in On Stranger Tides, a skilled pirate with a complicated romantic past involving Jack Sparrow. Their relationship involved mutual attraction, betrayal and the knowledge that neither could completely trust the other. By the end of the movie, Jack had abandoned Angelica on a deserted island after manipulating events surrounding her father Blackbeard’s death.
The film’s post-credits scene revealed that Angelica had discovered a voodoo doll resembling Jack, suggesting she might eventually seek revenge. That unresolved scene could provide a starting point for another adventure, particularly if the next film wants to explore Jack’s past rather than introduce another family connection. Cruz returning would bring back a pirate who already knows Jack’s tricks and has personal reasons to confront him. We think their unresolved conflict could work without requiring the filmmakers to establish an entirely new rivalry.
4. Bill Nighy as Davy Jones
Davy Jones remains one of the franchise’s most recognisable villains, with Bill Nighy portraying the tentacled captain as a character whose cruelty was tied to his personal history. Jones’ obsession with Calypso, his command of the Flying Dutchman and his control over the Kraken made him central to the original trilogy. His story appeared to end when Will Turner stabbed his heart in At World’s End, causing him to fall into the maelstrom.
However, Dead Men Tell No Tales complicated that ending with a post-credits scene showing a mysterious figure resembling Jones approaching Will and Elizabeth while they slept. The barnacles left behind suggested something supernatural might have happened, although the scene never confirmed that Jones had physically returned. Nighy’s comeback would require an explanation for his survival or return, but it could also resolve a mystery the fifth movie deliberately introduced. We’d like to see that scene addressed if the next film brings Will Turner back into the story.
3. Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa
Few characters have shared as much history with Jack Sparrow as Hector Barbossa, the former Black Pearl captain who repeatedly shifted between being Jack’s enemy, rival and reluctant ally. Geoffrey Rush played the character with theatrical delivery, ruthless ambition and occasional moments of loyalty. Their relationship worked because even when they appeared to cooperate, neither pirate could resist trying to outsmart the other. That rivalry was a recurring part of the franchise across several films.
Unfortunately, Barbossa’s apparent death in Dead Men Tell No Tales creates an obstacle to bringing him back. He sacrificed himself to save Carina, giving the character an emotional ending that shouldn’t simply be reversed without consequences. A flashback, an earlier adventure or another carefully explained supernatural storyline could allow Rush to return. However, we wouldn’t want the filmmakers to undo Barbossa’s sacrifice purely to reunite the original cast, especially when that decision was central to his final appearance.
2. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann
Elizabeth Swann had a much larger role in the original trilogy than simply being its romantic interest. Keira Knightley’s character evolved from a governor’s daughter into a pirate who eventually became Pirate King, undergoing considerable changes across the three films. Her relationship with Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner provided a continuing emotional storyline alongside Jack Sparrow’s adventures.
Elizabeth returned briefly in Dead Men Tell No Tales, reuniting with Will after the destruction of Poseidon’s Trident freed him from his supernatural obligation. That scene resolved the couple’s long separation and gave them a reunion after years apart. However, Knightley told People in September 2025 that she believed her pirate adventures were finished, making an extended comeback less likely.
Nevertheless, Elizabeth’s status as Pirate King leaves room for another story if the filmmakers ever persuade Knightley to return. A renewed threat to the seas could force Elizabeth back into pirate politics, particularly if Will’s past aboard the Flying Dutchman becomes relevant again. We’d prefer to see her return with a meaningful role rather than appear only for a brief reunion scene. Her history across the original trilogy provides enough material for the filmmakers to explore how her responsibilities may have changed.
1. Orlando Bloom as Will Turner
Orlando Bloom’s return could help Pirates of the Caribbean 6 continue several storylines established in the original trilogy. Will Turner began as an ordinary blacksmith, became one of Jack Sparrow’s closest allies and eventually inherited command of the Flying Dutchman after Davy Jones’ death. His relationship with Elizabeth remained central to the original films, while his transformation into the Dutchman’s captain established consequences that continued into the fifth movie.
Unlike some of his former co-stars, Bloom has publicly discussed the possibility of bringing the original cast together again. Speaking to Deadline in 2025, he suggested that nostalgia might create an opportunity for the familiar characters to reunite. That’s not an official commitment, but it confirms that Bloom hasn’t ruled out the idea of returning.
Will’s story also contains an unresolved mystery that could be revisited. The fifth movie freed him from the Flying Dutchman, yet its final scene hinted that Davy Jones might somehow have returned. Revisiting that threat could bring Will and Jack together for another adventure while addressing the supernatural storyline established in the original trilogy. For us, that would be a stronger reason to reunite the characters than bringing them back simply because audiences remember them.
None of these seven actors has been officially confirmed for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, and even Depp’s return remains dependent on the screenplay and negotiations. Bruckheimer is developing another installment, while familiar cast members have expressed varying degrees of interest in returning. Whether Disney chooses a reunion or a different direction, several characters still have stories that could be explored. We’d be particularly interested in seeing the unresolved plots addressed if the studio decides to reconnect the next movie with the original films.
