Pirates Of The Caribbean 3 Cast: Where Are They Now?

It’s kind of wild to consider just how big the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was during the 2000s. It doesn’t get talked about all that much today but for a few years, it was basically the biggest movie series on the planet. Based on a Disney Theme Park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl proved to be a bigger hit than expected. The sequels went on to be even bigger, with three films in a row grossing more than $1 billion each.

The third film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, was designed as the ending to a trilogy, so it was highly anticipated. The scale somehow only got bigger than the previous films, culminating in a climactic battle that was as epic as it gets. They gave established characters a memorable ending and brought in actors who were big deals, including Chow Yun-fat. As big as the film was, it’s hard to realize that it arrived nearly two decades ago.

That makes it interesting to consider what the cast has been up to. Have the actors remained in the public eye the way that they did in 2007, have they retired, or have they moved on to something else entirely?

Johnny Depp – Captain Jack Sparrow

The biggest selling point of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for a while was Johnny Depp’s charismatic performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. Even after the trilogy, he played the character in two more installments, including one that grossed more than $1 billion, proving his box office success.

Depp continued to make big films like Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd, yet he started to appear in some bombs like The Long Ranger and Mortdecai. His career also took a hit after a very public and ugly legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. His upcoming role in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is meant to mark his return.

Keira Knightley – Elizabeth Swann

Keira Knightley was captivating as Elizabeth Swann, and her role peaked in At World’s End when she became Pirate King. It was the culmination of an impressive character arc that cemented Elizabeth as one of the toughest female characters in any fantasy franchise.

Knightley hasn’t appeared in many blockbusters since, but she has been great in smaller indie projects. From Begin Again to Misbehaviour to the ongoing Netflix series Black Doves, she has remained a quality actor. Most recently, she’s been on stage in London in The Lives of Others.

Orlando Bloom – Will Turner

The 2000s kind of belonged to Orlando Bloom as he was in both the Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings franchises, making him a box office sensation with two legendary fantasy trilogies to his name. Like Knightley, he returned to Will Turner for the fifth installment, now as the captain of the Flying Dutchman.

Bloom also returned to his role as Legolas in The Hobbit trilogy, adding another box office success to his name. He’s slowed down a bit in recent years, with notable roles in Gran Turismo and Deep Cover. He has two upcoming roles in Wizards! and Bucking Fastard.

Geoffrey Rush – Captain Barbossa

After playing the villain in the first film, Geoffrey Rush returned as Captain Barbossa at the end of the sequel and is one of the stars of At World’s End. His banter with Jack was always great, which he showed again by playing Barbossa again for the fourth and fifth entries.

As a legendary actor, Rush has kept working in major movies and earned an Oscar nomination for The King’s Speech. He was away from the screen for a few years after a few legal battles, where he was accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior. He has a few films in post-production as he attempts to come back.

Bill Nighy – Davy Jones

The special effects used to turn Bill Nighy into Davy Jones remain among the best ever put to the big screen. Nighy brought a charm to the character that allowed him to be as funny as he is terrifying, which isn’t an easy line to walk. It made Jones one of the most compelling characters of the decade.

Since the franchise concluded, Nighy has kind of popped up everywhere, including as Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. He’s remained active, with Shelter and 500 Miles as 2026 movies he’s in, as well as two TV shows that he’s currently filming.

Tom Hollander – Lord Cutler Beckett

Tom Hollander’s Lord Cutler Beckett was a different kind of villain for the franchise. He wasn’t a pirate and he wasn’t nearly as threatening as Davy Jones. However, he used his position to try and take control of everything, without a care for who he hurt along the way.

Hollander has continued to consistently act, with roles in Bohemian Rhapsody, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Bird Box, and The King’s Man. On the small screen, he’s also been great in Harley Quinn, The White Lotus, and Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. In 2026, he’ll be starring in The Uprising alongside Andrew Garfield.

Naomie Harris – Tia Dalma

Naomie Harris was a highlight of the second and third installments in the franchise as Tia Dalma. A mysterious woman, she shows up to help Jack and his crew as he tries to survive the oncoming threat of Davy Jones. In At World’s End, it gets revealed that she’s actually the sea goddess Calypso, adding to her importance to the franchise.

Harris entered a new franchise after At World’s End, appearing as Eve Moneypenny in Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies. She also popped up as Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. There doesn’t seem to be much on the horizon right now but her most recent film, Black Bag, was loved by critics.

Stellan Skarsgård – Bootstrap Bill Turner

Stellan Skarsgård played “Bootstrap” Bill Turner, who was actually named in the first installment but didn’t make his debut as the character until the sequel. The prosthetics and makeup used on him was remarkable and he ended up playing a key part, especially as he assisted his son William.

Skarsgård might be the most consistently working member of this cast today. From Mamma Mia! to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to The Avengers to Dune to Andor, he’s pretty much appeared everywhere. He also landed an Oscar nomination in 2026 for his role in Sentimental Value.

Chow Yun-fat – Sao Feng

Chow Yun-fat was a big get for At World’s End. He was well-known as an action star in China and his inclusion showed that the franchise was going to take us to new places in the third film. His scenes as Sao Feng, especially alongside Keira Knightley, were good even if there weren’t a lot of them.

Since At World’s End, Yun-fat has mostly been away from major Hollywood movies, especially after Dragonball Evolution flopped. He has appeared in plenty of Chinese movies, including landing several nominations for Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Most recently, Yun-fat had roles on the TV series The Miracles and the 2026 film, Cold War 1994.

Release Date

May 19, 2007

Runtime

169 Minutes

Director

Gore Verbinski