producer Jerry Bruckheimer passionately expresses his desire to have Johnny Depp back for more films. saw its last iteration in 2017 with the film . A sequel, which will be the sixth film has since been announced. Unlike its five predecessors, however, Depp will not be returning as Captain Jack Sparrow.

If it were up to Bruckheimer, however, Depp would return to the . Speaking with , Bruckheimer sung Depp’s praises, speaking well of both his talents and character. Check out the full quote from Bruckheimer:

"He’s just so good at what he does and actors recover from things like this. He’s a good individual and he’s a caring individual. He’s somebody that you can rely on and he’s just terrific. I think Johnny is an utter friend and an amazing artist and, again, you go through things in life you wish you hadn’t, but he’s still a talented artist."

How Jack Sparrow's Loss Changes Pirates of the Caribbean

This is not the first time Bruckheimer has expressed interest in working with . This time, Bruckheimer doubles down on his fondness for the actor, subtly defending Depp against his rocky image in the public eye in the process. Both Depp’s drama with ex-partner Amber Heard and his already-announced exit as Jack Sparrow make his return to the series seem unlikely, despite Bruckheimer’s support of Depp.

Without Depp, will shape up to be a lot different from the first five films. Captain Jack Sparrow has been the series’ iconic protagonist since 2003’s , so it will be difficult for the series for forge ahead without him. may also lack other , who played former-blacksmith-turned-pirate Will Turner in the original series. Unlike Depp, Bloom has hinted about his openness to return for .

Bruckheimer’s passionate support of Depp’s return should not be taken lightly, however. Bruckheimer has been heavily involved in the series since its inception in 2003. Furthermore, he has a powerful Hollywood stronghold, producing a number of blockbuster hits including last year’s . If Depp’s image is able to turn around in the coming years, perhaps Bruckheimer could see wishes come true.