Pirates of the Caribbean 6doesn’t technically need Johnny Depp to return as Captain Jack Sparrow, and these two other Disney franchises prove it. Originally confirmed in 2018, following the fifth film in the franchise,Pirates of the Caribbean 6has had many updatesover the years. From writers dropping out, to rumors of a reboot, the sequel has been in, what appears to be, development hell for nearly eight years, leaving many wonderingwhyPirates of the Caribbean 6is taking so long. With no official release date or casting announcements, the movie still largely remains a mystery.
One of the main topics of debate about the sixthPiratesfilm is Johnny Depp’s involvement. Depp was reportedly dropped from the franchise, causing him in turn to reject the idea of returning (viaEW). Captain Jack is arguably the mosttreasured character inPirates of the Caribbean, having appeared in every film so far, so it’s hard to imagine the movie without him. However,with no official confirmation of Depp’s return,Pirates of the Caribbean 6may need to find a way to work without Sparrowas the lead character. Luckily, Disney has done it before.
Disney Brought Back The Alien & Predator Franchises (Without Legacy Characters)
Alien & Predator Introduced New Characters After Disney’s Acquisition
Pirates of the Caribbeancould look to other now-Disney franchises for inspirationregarding the future of their movies without Depp. Since Disney acquired theAlienandPredatorfranchisesin 2019, there have been two movies released under the new company:Alien: RomulusandPrey. Both movies were successes at the box office and on streaming platforms. This was impressive given thatRomulusandPreymostly comprised entirely new casts and settings, acting soft franchise reboots, instead of featuring the “legacy"PredatorandAliencharacters that have appeared in multiple movies.
585 million minutes in three days (viacomicbook.com)
Alien: Romulus(2024)
$350.9 million worldwide
Recurring characters, such as Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, and repeated locations are just some of thethings that happen in everyAlienmovie, which is whyRomulus’success was such a surprise, considering it broke that tradition. In contrast, thePredatormovies have always been somewhat episodic, with each film almost acting as a standalone, yet the franchise is still a major hit.Alien: RomulusandPreyare fantastic examples forPirates of the Caribbean 6as they show how a Disney franchise can work without its legacy characters, even if it previously had one in Captain Jack Sparrow.
What Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Without Jack Sparrow Would Look Like
Pirates Of The Caribbean Could Benefit From A Soft Reboot
Regardless of opinions about whether Depp should return, there are plenty of ideas about what thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise could look like without Jack Sparrow. The most obvious solution to Depp’s absence is to find agood replacement for Sparrow inPirates of the Caribbean 6.Some have suggested that the focus be turned to Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) as an alternate lead, considering his history with Jack, his time as the Captain of the Flying Dutchman, and the eerie nightmare sequence teasing Davy Jones' (Bill Nighy) return in the post-credits scene ofDead Men Tell No Tales.
Alternatively,Pirates 6could center on a younger lead by continuing the story of Will and Elizabeth’s (Keira Knightley) son, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), who made his debut in the last movie. However,the best idea might be to forget previous characters altogether, minus unintrusive cameos from minor characters like Gibbs (Kevin McNally). Instead,Pirates of the Caribbeancould abandon Captain Jack Sparrow’s potential returnto focus on a new character’s story in the same universe, as a soft reboot of the franchise. Yet, this will only work with the perfect casting for the lead role.
There Is A Difference Between Pirates Of The Caribbean And Disney’s Other Returning Franchises
Jack Sparrow Is In Every Pirates Movie, Tying His Character To The Franchise
Despite the franchises all functioning under Disney,Pirates of the Caribbeanfeatures a major difference fromAlien: RomulusandPrey. For one, Depp has been ineveryPirates of the Caribbeanmoviesince it began in 2003, andCaptain Jack Sparrow acts as the face of the franchise, whereas both theAlienandPredatormovies have changed cast in every film. This is important as Sparrow’s iconic looks and personality make him a hit among audiences, leading to the franchise grossing $4.5 billion worldwide, and earning bothPirates of the Caribbeanand Johnny Depp an unforgettable legacy.
However, although Depp is deeply ingrained in the franchise,Jack Sparrow does play a somewhat supporting role inPirates of the Caribbean. ThePiratesfranchise’sfocus was always shared with Elizabeth, and when Sparrow dies in the sequel, he is actually missing for half ofAt World’s End. Therefore,Pirates of the Caribbeanhas technically already made movies “without” Jack Sparrow. Considering Sparrow’s story has reached a definitive end (multiple times), it is time forPirates of the Caribbeanto move on, mirroring changing the focus from Ripley inAlienand leaving Captain Jack Sparrow’s legacy on a high note.
