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An update on the status of the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie is not looking good for Johnny Depp. The successful action franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide since the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl premiered in 2003. Since then, the franchise produced a trilogy with the original cast as well as two sequels featuring an updated slate of characters. The main component of these blockbuster films has always been Johnny Depp’s recurrent role as the unpredictable Captain Jack Sparrow, which may not be the case in the next Pirates movie.
Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has been in development for years with very little progressive movement toward its production. The most recent Pirates film was released in 2017 and made an impressive run at the box office, pulling in just under $800 million in ticket sales. With the franchise still maintaining its popularity twenty years after the release of the original film, it’s surprising that Disney has waited this long to announce any update on the beloved franchise. Culture-shaking events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Depp’s widely documented career cancelation and public trial with Amber Heard likely caused some hesitancy to include Depp in the next Pirates installment.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Update Suggests Captain Jack Isn’t The Lead
A recent statement from Sean Bailey, the President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures division, implied that Disney is on the fence about whether to include Depp in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Bailey left the door open for Depp’s return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 but explicitly expressed that neither he nor any executive at Disney felt that Depp was an essential part of the franchise moving forward. Bailey went on the record saying, “We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say. [We’re] Noncommittal at this point [on Depp’s return].”
While Disney is not necessarily against including Depp in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie, the lack of sincere enthusiasm for Depp to come back as Captain Jack Sparrow suggests that the franchise is aiming to rebuild around a new main character or group of protagonists. After fifteen years and five movies with Captain Jack Sparrow as the undeniable face of the Pirates franchise, it’s somewhat difficult to imagine a true-to-form Pirates movie without the whimsical antics of Sparrow and the iconic presence of Depp.
A Fresh Start Is Great For The Pirates Of The Caribbean Franchise
While a Pirates of the Caribbean movie without Depp is seemingly counterintuitive, it could actually be a great opportunity for Disney to revamp the beloved franchise for modern audiences. Disney could craft a new culturally-relevant narrative that could act as a foundation for a whole new original trilogy with younger actors, fresh character arcs, and an expanded universe. Alternatively, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 could become a television series on the Disney+ streaming platform which, if done tastefully, could compete with the phenomenon of the original movies. Leaving Depp out of the protagonist role in future Pirates installments opens up many more possibilities for the franchise than keeping him in.
Some aspects of Captain Jack Sparrow’s character may have lost their initial charm due to the shifts in American culture and social thought during the past twenty years. What was once seen as boisterous yet irresponsible fun from Sparrow could now be seen as insensitive or selfish actions that end up placing other characters in compromising and dangerous positions. Modern audiences might overlook Sparrows’ charismatic catchphrases in a hypothetical Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and realize the glaring flaws in Jack’s character. This could ultimately make Sparrow a more difficult character to root for in future installments of the Pirates franchise, which might explain Disney’s hesitancy to involve him.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Already Proved It Can Survive Depp’s Exit
The success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is not as reliant on Depp’s involvement as it may appear to be. Depp is not the only major actor associated with the franchise that can still generate appearances for audiences. Kiera Knightly, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffrey Rush are still staples of the Pirates franchise that Disney could utilize in future installments and may even expand on their lineage or children. Disney could also look to involve other major actors to reboot the brand, similar to how Chris Pratt joined the Jurassic Park franchise in 2015.
It’s also crucial to remember that Depp would likely seek significant compensation to reprise his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow, which might not be affordable for Disney. The company recently removed hundreds of original titles from its streaming platform to reduce costs. If Depp does not return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise due to Disney’s disinterest or lack of funds, there is still hope that the next Pirates installment will be able to successfully continue and expand further without the help of the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow.
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