It’s basically a given at this point that a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie will happen. Director Gore Verbinski may not be involved, but Johnny Depp has so far, sounded like he’d be up for it. But what no one has suspected is that if another Pirates of the Caribbean movie does happen after the upcoming third one, it may not be a sequel.

Our friends over at Moviehole have picked up an item from The Herald Sun in which Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer says the fourth movie may actually be a spin-off instead. He says, “This is the end [of the current trilogy], but whether one of the characters or a couple of the characters continue on, it’s a possibility.”

That statement was later backed up by Geoffrey Rush, who even went so far as to hint that the thing may go on without Johnny Depp. Since he’s the one saying it, you’ve got to wonder if maybe they’ll shift the focus to his character, Captain Barbosa. If the fourth movie is going to be about anyone besides Captain Jack, Barbosa and his piratical monkey are their next best option.