Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow may not be inPirates of the Caribbean 6, and while that would be a shame, there’s one big change that could perfectly set the sequel up to succeed without him. Though Jack Sparrow is the most iconic part of the franchise, thelong-confirmed sequel,Pirates of the Carribean 6, may not include him. There’s been no official word on Johnny Depp’s return from Disney, and it seems thatPOTC 6has found a replacement star in the form of Margot Robbie. While manyPOTCfans - myself included - would love to see Jack Sparrow return, it’s simply not a guarantee.
If Johnny Depp doesn’t end up returning as Jack Sparrow,POTC 6will immediately be at a disadvantage. Jack is easily the most recognizable character in the franchise, and several people wouldn’t even entertain the notion of aPiratesmovie without him. It’s clear that ifPOTC 6doesn’t have Jack, it will need some big new change to compensate for his absence. Luckily, there’s one easy trick that would provide that change, explain Jack’s absence, open the door to new historical pirates, and pave the way for many more Margot Robbie-ledPirates of the Caribbeanfilms.
Pirates 6 Can Explore A Different Era Of Piracy (If Jack Sparrow Is Not In It)
POTC 6 Could Explain Jack Sparrow’s Absence By Being A Prequel Set Before His Exploits
If Jack Sparrow doesn’t end up appearing inPirates of the Caribbean 6, the franchise could easily take on a different part of pirate history.POTCtakes place chronologicallyat the end of the “Golden Age of Pirates,” in the 1720s. However,the Golden Age of Pirates began in roughly the 1680s (viaRoyal Museums Greenwich), meaning there are 40 years of real-life history ripe forPOTC 6to adapt. As a prequel,POTC 6could explore the origins of pirates as hunters who were forced into a life of crime by the Spanish empire, and it could feel completely different from the first five films.
Being set in the 1680s wouldn’t just givePOTC 6a fresh, new setting to play with, it would also explain Jack Sparrow’s absence. As we know fromAt World’s End’s deleted scene, Jack became a pirate after freeing a ship full of enslaved people, so his story is tied to the 1720s and later.IfPOTC 6does take place in the 1680s, Jack’s absence would be as simple to explain as saying that he just wasn’t a pirate yet. That timeframe would also make it easier to introduce Margot Robbie’s yet-unnamed character, asPOTC 6could follow her first days as a pirate.
POTC 6 Being Set Earlier Would Also Allow New Historical Pirates To Appear
POTC Could Introduce Famous Pirates From History Like Captain Kidd, Henry Morgan, & Henry Every
Perhaps the best example of how being a prequel could makePOTC 6feel distinct from the rest of the franchise is the historical pirates it could introduce. Several of the most famous pirates in history, likeCaptain Kidd, Henry Morgan, and Henry Every, also known as the King of Pirates, were active in the 17th century, more than 20 years before the firstPirates of the Caribbeanfilm. All three of those pirates have rich and fascinating stories thatPOTC 6could explore, like how Henry Every lived long enough to retire, a rare feat for a pirate.
Henry Morgan has appeared inPirates of the Caribbeanbefore. InDead Men Tell No Tales, a flashback to a young Jack Sparrow saw him receive his famous compass from the pirate captain as he died. This is something of an inconsistency, however. Henry Morgan died in 1688, which would make Jack at least 75 years old inDead Men Tell No Tales.
POTC 6’s potential legendary pirates aren’t even limited to historical figures. If it is a prequel,POTC 6could easily feature younger versions of mainstays of the franchise.Hector Barbossa was certainly alive at the time, and mythical figures like Tia Dalma and Davey Jones were around long before Jack Sparrow became a pirate. Essentially,POTC 6could pick the characters and parts of the franchise that worked the best and bring them back while leaving the less effective parts ofPirates of the Caribbeanin the past (technically the future).
POTC 6 Being A Prequel Would Help It Avoid The Later Films’ Mistakes
A Prequel Wouldn’t Have To Deal With The Complicated Curses & Mythology Of Later POTC Films
There’s yet another benefit to makingPOTC 6a prequel: it would distance itself from the later, worsePOTCfilms.On Stranger TidesandDead Men Tell No Talesare widely considered theworst of thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms. There are a wide variety of reasons for that distinction, but one of them is the overly-complicated supernatural plot points in them.IfPOTC 6is a prequel, it won’t have to touch any of the supernatural elements of the later films. Instead of trying to explain what happened after the Trident of Poseidon broke all the curses of the sea,POTC 6could simply start anew.
Avoiding the long list of mythical treasures Jack Sparrow has already searched for would also letPOTC 6serve as a perfect starting point.As a prequel,POTC 6wouldn’t require its audience to have any prior knowledge of the rest of the franchise, which would make it more appealing to a wider range of new viewers. It would also mean it can start a new story from scratch, which could serve as the basis for many more films starring Margot Robbie. Taking place before the rest of the franchise might be the best thingPirates of the Caribbean 6could possibly do.
