No shit. Although the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise is at its best when the focus isn't entirely on Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow, it'd be foolish to deny that the majority of audiences aren't turning up for Depp's portrayal of the drunken pirate. That said, Johnny Depp isn't quite the box-office draw that he once was, and with the future of the franchise looking unclear at the moment, it's not inconceivable that it could spin off in a new Sparrow-less direction.
However, that's a future that Jerry Bruckheimer can't see happening. The PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN producer recently spoke with Digital Spy to say that he can't imagine making a PIRATES flick without Johnny Depp.
I just don't see it. The secret to any successful franchise is picking talented people, and Johnny is absolutely key to the success of Pirates. He's such a unique character, such an endearing character, and such an irreverent character all in one.
After five installments of Johnny Depp's pirate shtick, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to a PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film with a little less Jack Sparrow, or even, gasp, no Jack Sparrow at all. There are plenty of other characters in the franchise who could be explored further, such as Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), but I suppose it would be a tough sell. What do you folks think? Can the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise survive without Johnny Depp?
The official synopsis for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES:
The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea – notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES is currently playing in theaters, so make sure to check out a review from our own Chris Bumbray!