Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom can pull off quite a lot, from swashbuckling adventures and daring sword fights to making an unlikely pirate duo look like a match made in cinematic heaven. As Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean, the actors made their contrasting personalities work like a charm, with Depp delivering eccentric unpredictability and Bloom bringing earnest heroism. However, there is one thing neither actor seems particularly equipped to pull off: growing a beard.

The reveal is quite a surprise, considering Depp and Bloom are both known for their rugged looks, but it seems the beard gods are not on their side. 

The facial hair department apparently remains unfinished business for Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, even after their swashbuckling days in Pirates of the Caribbean. Speaking at a screening of his new film Ebenezer in New York City, Depp was asked whether he would consider returning for another installment of the franchise, prompting him to make a rather unexpected admission about his and Bloom's beard-growing abilities.

“Well, I think we should have a ... contest of who can grow the fastest non-beard,” he said. “‘Cause neither of us can grow a beard, I don’t think. I can’t for sure, but maybe he can. I don’t know.”

The admission is particularly amusing given Depp's current transformation for Ebenezer, Ti West's gothic adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Playing the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, the actor has traded his familiar mustache-and-goatee combination for an entirely different facial hair situation. His appearance features a grizzly, patchy gray beard and heavy greying sideburns, helping create the weathered, unkempt look of the iconic miser.

Of course, there is considerably more going on beneath that scraggly beard than a simple change in grooming habits. Depp's transformation relies heavily on extensive old-age makeup and prosthetics to bring the Dickens character to life. The deliberately sparse, weathered facial hair is part of Scrooge's severe appearance, making the actor's real-life admission to People about struggling to grow a full beard an especially amusing coincidence.

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Of course, with Johnny Depp weighing in on a potential Pirates of the Caribbean return, it is worth noting that Orlando Bloom is already on board.

Orlando Bloom, meanwhile, has already made his interest in another Pirates of the Caribbean adventure clear. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at the Toronto International Film Festival, the actor revealed that he still keeps in touch with Johnny Depp and would welcome the possibility of sharing the screen with his former costar again. Bloom also acknowledged that the franchise holds a special place in audiences' memories, making a return an appealing prospect.

“I connect with [Depp] every now and again, because he’s amazing,” Bloom said when asked about updates on the Pirates films. He added that nostalgia could play a significant role in bringing the franchise back, before noting that audiences continue to revisit the films and experiences they loved. For now, Bloom is clearly open to another voyage, even if the timing and shape of a reunion remain uncertain.

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Were you surprised by Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom's inability to grow a beard? Let us know in the comments!