Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of Disney’s most successful franchises, but Pirates of the Caribbean 6

should make a clear adjustment around one of the central characters, Jack Sparrow. Pirates of the Caribbean was a surprise hit film that released its first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2003. Despite having an incredible cast and compelling action, the movie was based on a theme park ride from Disney, which made it an unusual proposition for a movie.

However, the movie proved to be a huge success, and spawned a franchise of similar films that would continue being released over the next decade and beyond. And throughout, one key character stood out as being the face of the franchise, despite not always being the hero, or even the main protagonist, Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack is a swashbuckling pirate played by Johnny Depp, and following the very public court case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, the franchise was put on hold, but if Depp and Captain Jack are to return, there is only one way it can really work for PotC 6 and beyond.

If Jack Sparrow Is In Pirates Of The Caribbean 6, It Should Be As A Supporting Character

Jack Sparrow Needs To Take A Back Seat In PotC

Aside from the drama surrounding Johnny Depp after winning his case, there are other things to consider when it comes to bringing Jack Sparrow back for more adventures in PotC. Depp is currently in his 60s, and continuing to play a role he has held since his late 30s will continue to get more challenging. However, beyond that, Captain Jack has had his story told pretty comprehensively. Bringing the character back should not mean having them lead a new film, but instead, it would be better to have Captain Jack as a supporting character.

Whether that means having him be an insightful older pirate who can guide a new generation, or someone who only appears briefly, paying homage to Captain Jack would work better than beating a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ horse and trying to push out another movie about the character. He’s quirky, he’s loud, he’s often tipsy, but that narrative has been played out more than enough in the previous five movies. A new movie should rejuvinate the franchise, and that means shifting the focus to a new protagonist.

Jack Sparrow’s Best Moments In The POTC Franchise Were As A Supporting Character

Captain Jack Performs Best As Part Of A Small Team

Even in the other entries released in the franchise to date, Captain Jack works best when he is part of a small team of ragtag heroes. He isn’t great with a larger crew, but with people like Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann by his side, he has managed to be a hero. Captain Jack’s banter and his unusual tactics work best when they appear opposite to other characters who have a very different approach. While he stands out, he works best as a side character.

And it doesn’t just need to be Elizabeth and Will. When he teams up with previous foes like Barbossa, the chemistry is electric. This is also a result of Depp’s incredible ability to connect and engage with other actors, and elevate a project through their shared efforts. Captain Jack is an incredible and fun character, but without a team, and without some more steady and level-headed characters, the adventures would likely come to a screeching halt after Jack gets himself into more trouble than he can reasonably find his way out of.

Jack Sparrow As A Supporting Character Only Works If POTC 6 Has Great Protagonists

It’s Time For Pirates Of The Caribbean To Bring In A New Cast

However, this comes with a major caveat. Depp is the face of the franchise, with Captain Jack being the most recognizable and beloved figure to come out of the films. And while this is a wonderful development and one that created an environment for the franchise to thrive in the first place, it creates a challenge in terms of shifting the focus off of Jack, and onto whoever comes in to lead the franchise next. For that reason, the new protagonists will need to be incredibly compelling, not only to make the movie a success, but also to avoid Captain Jack taking over.

There are plenty of incredible actors who could hold their own against Depp, and certainly, with a little refinement, a new hero could come forward in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise who could even outshine Captain Jack, but it will take a great new cast, and well-developed characters. Otherwise, it would be a mistake to bring Jack Sparrow back for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, as it could end up shifting the focus off the new leads, and create confusion about what the new movies are trying to build.