Pirates of the Caribbeanhas consistently been one of the most lucrative and successful properties in Hollywood for several decades now, with Johnny Depp’s iconic performance leading the many sequels to success. However, with Depp’s involvement in the franchise growing uncertain, it’s unclear exactly how the series is going to continue into the future.Pirates of the Caribbean 6has been confirmed, but it’s hard to see this sequel/reboot being as much of a hit without Depp.
The plans forPirates of the Caribbeanwere first announced in 2018, withDeadpool’sco-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick attached to the project. When they dropped out, the film struggled to find its footing and was delayed even further when Johnny Depp found himself at the center of a very public trial in 2022. It’s now being suggested thatPirates of the Caribbean 6will be more of a reboot than a sequel, which suggests Depp’s involvement may have been reduced or removed.Pirates of the Caribbeancan continue without Jack Sparrow, but it’s going to be difficult.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Will Have To Maintain The Franchise’s Impressive Box Office Average
It Won’t Be Easy To Maintain The Same Commercial Success
Since Gore Verbinski’s original movie in this popular Disney franchise,Pirates of the Caribbeanhas been a huge commercial success. The sequels have all performed excellently at the box office, withDead Man’sChestgrossing over $423 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo). The franchise’s third entry,At World’s End, was also an enormous success that pulled in over $309 million, proving beyond any doubt that the success of those first movies wasn’t just a fluke. From there, the franchise has continued to perform consistently well at the box office.
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However, it’s going to be very difficult if Depp doesn’t return forPirates of the Caribbean 6, as he’s been the unique appeal of these movies from the beginning. They’re some ofJohnny Depp’s best films, and his performance as the charismaticCaptain Jack Sparrow has been the undeniable highlight of this series. If the movie does end up being a reboot of the original, that would also imply that Jack Sparrow’s character will be recast with another actor - and whoever that ends up being, it may not be received well by fans of the original.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Taking So Long To Happen Makes It A Bigger Box Office Risk
It’s Been Seven Years Since The Previous Movie
Another huge problem forPirates of the Caribbean6is the constant delays that have hurdled the sequel’s development. It’s been seven years sinceDead Men Tell No Tales, and much of the excitement surrounding the franchise has likely died down.The most recent sequel was also the franchise’s worst, with critics and audiences agreeing that it marked a new low point for thePiratesseries. This could be a real problem for the sixth movie, as it’s likely been too long for a direct sequel, but maybe not long enough for a reboot either.
The seven years sinceDead Men Tell No Taleshave given audiences plenty of time to reflect on the failure of the most recent installment, and the franchise has undoubtedly been soured for some.
The seven years sinceDead Men Tell No Taleshave given audiences plenty of time to reflect on the failure of the most recent installment, and the franchise has undoubtedly been soured for some. It would take some serious work to rebuild the series’ image in the public consciousness, and recasting Depp’s character certainly doesn’t seem like the correct route to take. Many stars have alsorefused to return toPirates of the Caribbean, which means the sixth movie would be starting from square one - which can’t be good for the box office potential.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Might Be A Hard Sell With Or Without Johnny Depp
The Actor May Not Be Enough To Save The Series
Even if Johnny Depp does want to return forPirates of the Caribbean 6, the optics for the sequel still aren’t ideal. It’s been far too long, the franchise is arguably at an all-time low, and the actor himself is still trying to reconstruct his public image following a very personal and controversial trial just two years ago.It’s probably not the right time for Depp to make his return to the franchise, but without him, the series seems doomed. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Ultimately, the problem withPirates of the Caribbean’s sixth movie is that there isn’t a clear audience for the project. Everybody who grew up with Verbinski’s films is now much older and likely wouldn’t be too interested in a reboot, and younger audiences have no reason to care about the franchise because it’s been seven years since the last entry.Disney must go back to square one withPirates of the Caribbean 6and find an interesting, original solution that doesn’t rely on nostalgia or returning actors if they want this sequel/reboot to have any hope of succeeding commercially.
