Where Is the Cast of Pirates of the Caribbean Now? A Look at the Stars’ Careers Over 20 Years After the First Movie

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise spanned five films and 12 video games

It’s been over two decades since Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl first sailed into theaters.

The action film, which premiered in 2003, follows Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) as they retake Sparrow’s old ship the Black Pearl, all while rescuing the young Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) from cursed pirate Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush).

“She’s a 21st-century girl trapped in an 18th-century world,” Knightley said of her character in a 2003 BBC interview. “She kind of starts out as a damsel in distress and then kicks ass.”

The movie was inspired by the iconic Disney ride of the same name and spawned four sequels: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011) and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Jack Sparrow has also become one of Depp’s most iconic roles — the actor has even surprised Disney guests by sneaking onto the attraction dressed as his character, per Variety.

But what is the cast up to these days? From Oscar-nominated performances to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), here’s everything to know about the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean and where they are now.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow

In Pirates, Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow, the conniving, sly, swashbuckler who seeks to retake control of his lost ship in the franchise’s first film.

Before starring in Pirates, Depp was already pretty well-known thanks to starring roles in the 21 Jump Street series (1987-1991), plus movies like Edward Scissorhands (1991) and Blow (2001). Depp reprised his role as Jack Sparrow for all four sequels. Since then, he’s had parts in other hit movies like the Fantastic Beasts franchise (2016-2018) and City of Lies (2018).

In 2019, Depp sued ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation over her 2018 Washington Post op-ed titled “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath.” The trial, officially labeled John C. Depp, II v. Amber Laura Heard, took place in 2022 and received large amounts of publicity.

A seven-person jury decided that Heard defamed Depp in her op-ed and he was awarded more than $10 million in damages. After months of appeals, the two reached a settlement in 2023, with Heard agreeing to pay Depp $1 million. Depp then announced he would donate the money to five charities.

Since the trial, Depp has mostly focused on indie projects like the 2023 film Jeanne du Barry and the animated film Johnny Puff: Secret Mission (2024). Next up, Depp is set to star in Day Drinker, where he’ll play an eccentric yacht guest who befriends a bartender played by Madelyn Cline.

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann

Knightley played Elizabeth Swann, an aristocrat who is rescued by Sparrow and Turner after being kidnapped by rival pirates. She then ends up joining Sparrow and his ragtag crew on their adventures.

Pirates came at the beginning of Knightley’s career, but many fans already knew her thanks to appearances in Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), where she played Sabé (Padme’s stand-in).

Knightley returned for three of the Pirates sequels. During her time in the franchise, she also earned two Oscar nominations for her roles in Pride & Prejudice (2005) and The Imitation Game (2014). Since then, she’s starred in movies like The Nutcracker & the Four Realms (2018), Silent Night (2021) and Boston Strangler (2023).

Off-screen, Knightley has been married to musician James Righton since 2013 and they have two daughters, Edie and Delilah. Knightley’s next role will be in Netflix’s thriller The Woman in Cabin 10. Based on the novel of the same name by Ruth Ware, the film sees a cruise turn deadly.

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner

Bloom starred as Will Turner, a blacksmith with pirate heritage who’s also Elizabeth Swann’s love interest. “My character was this earnest, true blue, straight-shooting guy,” Bloom told BBC in 2003.

Pre-Pirates, Bloom was already a rising star thanks to his roles in The Lord of the Rings franchise (2001-2003) and Black Hawk Down (2001). After Curse of the Black Pearl, Bloom reprised his role in the sequel Dead Man’s Chest and had a cameo in Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Orlando Bloom’s Children: All About His Son Flynn and Daughter Daisy

After his time in Pirates, Bloom returned to Middle Earth in 2011, reprising his role as Legolas in The Hobbit franchise. He also starred in the series Carnival Row (2019-2023) and the film Gran Turismo (2023). Next up, he’s set to star alongside Bryce Dallas Howard and Sean Bean in the action comedy Deep Cover, about a group of improv actors who are asked to go undercover.

In his personal life, Bloom was married to model Miranda Kerr from 2010-2013 and together they had a son, Flynn. Bloom then started dating Katy Perry in 2016, proposing to her in 2019. Together, they welcomed daughter Daisy in 2020.

Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbosa

Rush portrayed Captain Hector Barbosa, a sailor once under Sparrow’s command who later usurped him aboard the Black Pearl. As the franchise goes on, he and Sparrow form an alliance.

Before joining Pirates, Rush was already an Oscar-winning actor thanks to the biopic Shine (1996). He also starred in massive films like Elizabeth (1998) and Shakespeare in Love (1998). Rush returned for all four Pirates sequels and later held roles in films like Minions (2015), Gods of Egypt (2016) and The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024).

In 2019, Rush was awarded over $1.9 million after winning a defamation case against an Australian newspaper that published allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Rush has been married to actress Jane Menelaus since 1988. They have two children, Angelica and James, both of whom work in the film industry, as he told The Guardian.

Jack Davenport as James Norrington

Jack Davenport plays James Norrington, a nobleman in love with Elizabeth. Once he sees that she’s been captured by pirates, he sets off to rescue her. Davenport reprised the role twice, for Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End.

After Pirates, Davenport found success starring in television series like Smash (2012-2013), Why Women Kill (2019-2021), The Morning Show (2019) and the second season of Dr. Death (2023).

Davenport comes from a successful Hollywood family. His father is Nigel Davenport, who starred in films like Chariots of Fire (1981), and his mother is Maria Aitken, who starred in movies like A Fish Called Wanda (1988).

Davenport has also been married to an actress, Michelle Gomez, since 2000. She is known for starring in shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020) and The Flight Attendant (2020-2022).

Next up, Davenport will star in PBS’ revival of The Forsyte Saga, based on the famous book series of the same name, per Deadline.

Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs

Kevin R. McNally played Joshamee Gibbs, a faithful friend to Jack Sparrow who becomes a pirate in his crew.

McNally reprised his role for all four sequels. Since then, he’s held starring roles in shows like Turn: Washington’s Spies (2014-2017) and films like Apartment 7A (2024).

Off-screen, McNally has been married to Downton Abbey star Phyllis Logan since 2011. They have a son named David, who is a musician, per the Sunday Post. McNally is now starring in Miss Austen, a series about the life and relationship between famed author Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra.

Zoe Saldaña as Anamaria

Zoe Saldaña appears in the The Curse of the Black Pearl as Anamaria, a pirate who has a sordid history with Sparrow. After striking a deal, she agrees to join his crew.

After her role in Pirates, Saldaña’s career skyrocketed. She starred in Guardians of the Galaxy as Gamora, in addition to other hit franchises like Star Trek (2009-2025) and Avatar (2009-2025).

Thanks to her massive franchises, Saldaña became the first actor to star in four movies grossing more than $2 billion. On top of her film roles, she also stars in the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness (2023-2025).

Zoë Saldana and Marco Perego’s Relationship Timeline

In 2025, Saldaña earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her work in Emilia Pérez (2024).

Saldana dated actor Bradley Cooper from 2011 to 2013 and has been married to filmmaker Marco Perego since 2013. They have three children together: twin daughters Cy and Bowie and son Zen. Next up, Saldana has more Avatar films on the way, the first being Avatar: Fire and Ash set for a December 2025 release.

Jonathan Pryce as Governor Weatherby Swann

Johnathan Pryce portrayed Elizabeth’s father Weatherby Swann, who is also the Governor of Port Royal.

Before Pirates, Pryce was a successful, Tony-winning stage actor who starred in shows like Hamlet, Oliver! and Miss Saigon. After Curse of the Black Pearl, he reprised his role two more times in Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, and later earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Pope Francis in 2019’s The Two Popes.

Pryce also starred as Prince Phillip in The Crown (2016-2023) and starred in the hit crime series Slow Horses (2022-2024). Next up, Pryce will star alongside Pierce Brosnan and David Tennant in the Netflix murder mystery The Thursday Murder Club, per Deadline.

Off-screen, the actor has been in a relationship with actress Kate Fahy since 1972, per The Guardian.

Lee Arenberg as Pintel

Lee Arenberg played the pirate Pintel, who was a member of Sparrow’s crew often seen bumbling around with his pal Ragetti.

Arenberg reprised the role for two more Pirates sequels and later went on to star as various characters in Once Upon a Time (2011-2018). His next project will be the western drama Last Train to Fortune, which also stars Mary Steenburgen and Bernadette Peters.

Mackenzie Crook as Ragetti

Mackenzie Crook starred as the other half of the Pintel-Ragetti duo and was known for his fale, wooden eye.

Just like Arenberg, Crook also reprised his role for two Pirates sequels and then went on to star in a number of British television shows like Detectorists (2014-2022) and Worzel Gummidge (2019-2021), the latter of which he also wrote and directed.