Pirates of the Caribbean 6
Johnny Depp may return in "Pirates of the Caribbean 6" Pirates of the Caribbean/Facebook

KEY POINTS

  • Johnny Depp reprised his "Pirates of the Caribbean" role for a Make-A-Wish Foundation collaboration
  • Depp sent a special message as Captain Jack Sparrow to Kori, an 11-year-old boy in palliative care
  • The child shared the actor's video message via his YouTube channel

Johnny Depp reprised his role of Captain Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise in a new Make-A-Wish Foundation video.

On Sunday, 11-year-old Kori shared via his "Kraken The Box" YouTube channel a video message from the 59-year-old actor as his iconic pirate character. This clip was reportedly one of the wishes of Kori, who is in palliative care after two unsuccessful heart transplants.

"So, Capt. Kori, terribly sorry I missed out on this. Meant to say it, forgot to say it, didn't say it, gonna say it now. Saying it, I'll say it," Depp said in the video while sporting Jack Sparrow's iconic costume, headscarf and tattoos. "I hear tell of something they speak about in the ages of now called the YouTube channel, which I don't understand, but why not?"

The actor added in the two-minute video that he "shall be glad to follow" Kori's YouTube channel and that he would spread the word to his friends and encourage them to follow the channel as well.

"I think [it] will make for a wonderful entertainment expertise momentary lapse of togetherness altogether in one space, but far apart, but then, at the same time, very close, curious, enduring and strange," Depp said as the eccentric pirate, before adding that he would be there "watching every moment" along with Kori.

"I wish you the best of luck. I am your No. 1 fan, Capt. Kori," Depp concluded as he blew a kiss to the camera.

An unnamed source close to Depp exclusively told People that the "Dark Shadows" actor was contacted by Make-A-Wish, a non-profit organization that helps fulfill the wishes of children between the ages of 2 and 18 who are terminally ill. It was reportedly a "timely ask" due to Kori's current condition.

The source added that Kori is a "massive fan" of Jack Sparrow and frequently watched the "Pirates" movie franchise "during his multiple heart surgeries and subsequent recovery periods."

A day after Kori uploaded Depp's special message, the young boy gained 10,000 subscribers on his channel. In a video, he and his mom expressed their gratitude to the viewers who helped him achieve the milestone and supported him toward his goal of reaching 100,000 subscribers.

"Thank you so much to absolutely every single person who has taken the time to press like, pressed subscribe, and watch Kori's videos, it just means the world," Kori's mom said.

Kori joined in and said, "[I'm] very happy. I woke up this morning and my mom was just like, 'You have 10,000,' and I'm like, 'How?'''

Kori has accumulated 183,000 YouTube subscribers as of this writing, surpassing his initial goal of 100,000.

Another video shared on Kori's channel Tuesday showed part of a video call between the boy and Depp, who was still in character as Jack Sparrow.

"Watch me be knighted as Captain Kori by Captain Jack Sparrow in the next part when I reach [200,000 subscribers]," text on the video read.

A sixth installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise was announced back in 2018. However, it remains in production, and the official release date is yet to be announced.

Although some of Depp's fans hope to see him return to the franchise, Disney production chief Sean Bailey confirmed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 that Depp was no longer a part of the franchise's future plans, noting that they wanted to "bring in a new energy and vitality."

After Disney officially cut ties with Depp over his ex-wife Amber Heard's abuse allegations, the actor vowed that he would not return to "Pirates of the Caribbean" while testifying in the exes' defamation trial earlier this year.

Depp said that "there was a deep and distinct sense of feeling betrayed by the people that I've worked hard for. People that I delivered a character to that they initially despised, but I stuck to my guns with the character, and it seemed to work."

The actor first appeared as Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" in 2003, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He last portrayed the role in the fifth installment, "Dead Men Tell No Tales," released in 2017.

Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has opened up about his divorce from actress Amber Heard. Pictured: The Hollywood actor attending the “Murder On The Orient Express” World Premiere at Royal Albert Hall in London, England on Nov. 2, 2017. Getty Images/Tim P. Whitby