Geoffrey Rush, who portrayed Captain Hector Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has expressed his interest in returning for a potential sixth film. Rush, one of only three actors to appear in all five previous installments alongside Johnny Depp and Kevin McNally, suggested that his character's demise in 2016's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" would not necessarily prevent his comeback.
"There's been a big enough break," Rush told Entertainment Weekly. "I said, you know, I sacrificed myself for my daughter, I don't want it to be too easy and too cheesy that I come back and go: 'give me another payday.' I respect the scale of the opera that's almost been created in that 20 year period."
Hewashed the idea to Shakespearean parallels, comparing a potential return to Hamlet's father appearing as a ghost. "I thought, that would take good writing but just to come back and annoy Jack Sparrow for one more go. I'd even say, get the fans to write in what they'd like to see happen," Rush added.
Plans for a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film have been in development for some time, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer previously stating that discussions were underway with Johnny Depp regarding his potential return. Disney had previously moved away from Depp following legal issues involving his ex-wife Amber Heard, exploring alternative directions for the franchise, including a project reportedly envisioned with Margot Robbie.
However, Bruckheimer has indicated that some familiar faces could indeed return, alongside a fresh approach to the series. Depp has consistently shown affection for his iconic role as Jack Sparrow, and other cast members, such as Orlando Bloom, have publicly supported Depp's potential comeback. The possibility now extends to Rush's character, Hector Barbossa, should the right creative elements align.