Goodbye, Jack Sparrow?
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" was filmed in Australia in 2015, where production was stalled and the crew encountered numerous bumps. It had nothing to do with injuries by some members of the cast, including Johnny Depp. (He flew to the US to treat it.) It was the messy separation (and eventual divorce) of Depp from Amber Heard instead. Tabloid rumors don't deserve a benefit of a doubt, but Depp's Jack Sparrow was the life and soul of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. It was sorely lacking in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales". On one hand, co-directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg might have intended it, as many shots highlighted shadows and eternal damnation. (The film was about Captain Armando Salazar's revenge.) On the other hand, Depp's issue with his ex-wife seemed to take a toll on him.
There was no doubt that Depp reached a career crossroad. Moviegoers were disarmed by his portrayal of Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", which earned him an Academy Award nomination. It was probably his most memorable to date, as the box-office (of the series) would reach the four-billion-dollar mark. Hollywood could be notorious for giving the green light to film subsequent sequels, as producers don't really have a clue about the preference of the audience. (Rønning implied in his recent Instagram post that a sixth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film might be filmed sooner.) Would it matter if the viewers have enough of fantasy swashbuckler films? The box-office result of ""Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" might provide some answers. Depp's A-list status would be under question.
For the meantime, let's walk down memory lane. What would make the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series a romp? Here's a recap:
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio concocted an enchanting, if not entertaining, tale of how Captain Hector Barbossa and his men were cursed after taking their share of Hernán Cortés's treasure in Isla de Muerta. A young lady, daughter of the governor of Jamaica, would have a terrifying encounter with the damned crew, and it was up to Jack Sparrow to save the lady (in great distress). Gore Verbinski seemed to be inspired by Errol Flynn's Captain Blood, but Depp's Sparrow was a first. The rest of the cast weren't far behind. (Some viewers might wonder why Geoffrey Rush, who played Captain Barbossa, didn't receive an Oscar nomination.) Whatever shortcomings that Verbinski made (during production and post-production stages), Depp covered it.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2005). Elliott and Rossio explored the myth behind the Flying Dutchman, a ship that was doomed to sail for eternity. Depp remained as fresh (and original) as the first, but he had lots of help here. Bill Nighy provided the hoots, playing Davy Jones. (He would be another intriguing character from the legends of yesteryear.) Naomie Harris was a scene stealer, as her Tia Dalma kept this sequel from running out of wind. Trouble would be brewing somewhere.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007). Elliot and Rossio might have ran out of ideas OR Walt Disney Pictures wanted to play if safe. Either way, this third installment lost steam before reaching the other side of the world. In this case, it would be the Far East. (It was relatively unfamiliar territory despite the numerous expeditions by Portuguese and Spanish navigators.) Some moviegoers thought there were too many subplots. It may be due to the recurring members of the cast, where they won't be enough spotlight for them. (The film was almost three hours long.)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). Penélope Cruz played the daughter of Blackbeard, Jack Sparrow's ex-flame. She turned out to be the heart of soul of this film, which should have alarmed Disney. It was hard to resist another sequel, though.
