Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Walt Disney Studios

Actor Johnny Depp appeared to make a surprise return as Jack Sparrow in Disneyland over the weekend.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Walt Disney Pictures

As captured by theme park blogger Berry Place 28, a man who appeared to be Depp greeted a number of people inside Disneyland while dressed up as Jack Sparrow. Depp’s Sparrow can be seen talking to a number of children dressed up in Star Wars outfits. After being instructed on how to perform a Jedi mind trick, Depp appears to notice Berry Place 28 and turns around and then begins attempting to perform the Jedi mind trick on a number of guests he walks by.

After Depp walked away, he then returned to speak with the children dressed up as Princess Leia and a Jedi. After finishing his conversation with them, he then chose to go in the opposite direction of Berry Place 28.

As Depp continued walking through the park, he stopped and took pictures with another child and greeted other guests. Eventually Berry Place 28 and his guest ask Depp for a picture. After getting the picture the two parties go their separate way.

Berry Place 28 believes it was indeed Johnny Depp. He said, “I kind of feel that the way he was asking, especially since I had the camera on, it was Johnny.” The woman he’s with then adds, “In case, he was trying to get away. Like he knew we knew or something.”

Berry Place 28 then added, “It was like quick take a photo, bye. He looked and sounded exactly like it. … I’m pretty sure that was Johnny Depp. That’s the first time I’ve been in the park to see him.”

A person who appears to be actor Johnny Depp dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow poses for a photo in Disneyland via Berry Place 28 YouTube

One of the big tells that this does indeed appear to be Johnny Depp is the fact that he spoke with the two children dressed up in Star Wars costumes about Star Wars.

On Disney Programs’ Character Performer Role FAQ website, it details that “All Character Performers will perform as our sculpted characters.” That seems to imply that actors playing various roles such as Johnny Depp would stay in-character rather than discussing something like Star Wars.

Elsewhere in the FAQ it notes that Disney seeks performers that “can bring our world-famous characters to life.”

Also Depp appears to be covering up his right hand with some kind of bandage that would easily identify him given he has a bird tattoo on his right hand as well as various symbols by his knuckles.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Walt Disney Pictures

Depp’s appearance in Disneyland could be a sign that he might have made amends with The Walt Disney Company after it unceremoniously ditched him after his ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic abuse in 2018.

Depp sued Amber Heard and the jury unanimously found that Heard defamed him and awarded Depp $5 million punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. It also awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages as part of her counter suit.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Walt Disney Pictures

During the trial, Depp testified he had no interest in returning to The Walt Disney Company. He was asked by Heard’s attorney Ben Rottenborn, “If Disney came to you with $300 million and a million alpacas nothing on this earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a Pirates of the Caribbean film?”

Depp replied, “That is true, Mr. Rottenborn.”

Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth Barbossa and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2011), Disney

In fact, up until this video all evidence indicated that was still the case. At the end of March, Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer discussed whether a new Pirates film or a new Top Gun film would make it to theaters first.

He told ComicBook.com, “It’s hard to tell. You don’t know, you really don’t know. You don’t know how they come together. You just don’t know. Because with Top Gun you have an actor who is iconic and brilliant. And how many movies he does before he does Top Gun, I can’t tell you.”

Next, he said, “But we’re gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.”

Jerry Bruckheimer speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for “Deliver Us from Evil”, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0

And just last month, Depp had harsh words for Hollywood executives as well as what movie going audiences want. He told Metro, “By and large, for the majority of the years I’ve been wandering around aimlessly talking to people, they really want the same thing. They don’t want to be fed dreck. They’re happy when they experience something new or different.”

He continued, “So that’s why I’ve always felt, as an actor, it’s your responsibility. When you come out of the gate each time… you’re putting as much at stake as anybody.”

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Walt Disney Studios

As for Hollywood executives, he says they “threw me in the bin.”

Depp asserted, “They’re disposable and they realise it. Glorified accountants who have the ability to press the green light and make studio films… but they press the green light, they spent s***loads of money.”

“Budgets are ridiculous on these films… some romantic comedy with two very popular people. People – the real people – they’re sick of it,” Depp concluded.

Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in Public Enemies (2009), Universal Pictures

What do you make of Depp returning to the character of Jack Sparrow in the park? Do you think this could signal that he might return to a film role?