The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is undoubtedly one of the best and most successful movie series but it could’ve been even better if one deleted scene stayed in. Five Pirates of the Caribbean movies have been released since 2003’s The Curse of the Black Pearl, with the latest installment, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales, arriving in 2017. Overall, the pirate franchise has earned a whopping $4.5 billion at the box office worldwide, ranking it among the top 20 highest-grossing movie franchises of all time. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in development.

Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow is an important part of why the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have become so critically and commercially successful, as he provides a unique charming personality to the antihero character that no one else could match. That said, there are a lot of unsolved mysteries in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that involve Sparrow, as many things are left unexplained. As a result, I can’t help but think that one particular deleted scene in At World’s End would have made the entire film series so much better if it had been kept in.

The Deleted Scene Explains Jack Sparrow’s History With Beckett Before Pirates Of The Caribbean

Sparrow Once Ferried Slaves For The East India Company

During the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, At World’s End, there is a deleted scene which explains Jack Sparrow’s history with Lord Beckett prior to the films. When Jack meets with Beckett to secretly negotiate his freedom, it is revealed that Beckett once contracted Jack to ferry 100 slaves for the East India Company, but Jack actually set them all free. As payback, Lord Beckett branded Jack as a pirate and burned his ship, which was called “the Wicked Wench.” When Jack got Davy Jones to resurrect the ship, its charred appearance rebranded it as “The Black Pearl.”

This deleted scene perfectly explained Jack Sparrow’s backstory, as well as further adding tension between Lord Beckett and the notorious pirate, which is why it is a shame that it was left out of the film. However, sitting at around four minutes in length, it is easy to see why the decision was made to cut the scene, especially when At World’s End’s total runtime is 168 minutes. That being said, the deleted scene might have improved the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as it provided some much-needed context and explanations of things that aren’t made clear in the films.

Jack’s Debt To Davy Jones Is Also Explained By This Deleted Scene

Jack’s 100 Soul Debt Is Explained By His Past

Jack’s debt to Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean is also explained in this deleted scene, as the topic is relatively untouched in the movies. While Davy Jones notoriously pursues Jack Sparrow throughout the franchise, the full reason why is left unsaid. Jones tells Jack in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man’s Chest, “You have a debt to pay. You’ve been captain of the Black Pearl for 13 years. That was our agreement.” This debt is never truly explained, as it refers to the events that are recalled in At World’s End’s deleted scene, and it’s all to do with Lord Beckett.

“Remarkable. The last I saw of that ship, she was on fire; a blackened hull, sinking beneath the waves.” – Lord Beckett

When Beckett burnt the Wicked Wench and nearly killed Jack, Jack bargained with Davy Jones for the ship and himself to be restored for 13 years, in return for his soul. However, in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man’s Chest, Davy Jones increases the debt to 100 souls instead. The reason for this specific figure is never fully divulged in the film, but the 100-soul debt actually symbolizes the 100 slaves Jack liberated from Beckett, which caused Jack’s deal with Jones in the first place. Therefore, the deleted scene would’ve explained a lot about Pirates of the Caribbean’s Black Pearl and Jack Sparrow’s history.

“People Aren’t Cargo Mate” Is A Line That Cements Jack As A Hero

The Deleted Scene Shows The Best And Worst Of Jack & Beckett

Another unfortunate aspect of leaving this scene out of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is that we miss out on one of Jack Sparrow’s greatest lines in the franchise, one that truly shows who he is as a character. When discussing his past with the pirate, Beckett says, “We had a deal, Jack. I contracted you to deliver cargo on my behalf. You chose to liberate it.” This comment obviously hits a sore spot with Jack as he states somewhat bitterly to Lord Beckett that “People aren’t cargo, mate,” while the scene lingers on his pirate brand.

Jack’s comment perfectly demonstrates what type of person he is, as he takes no issue with delivering cargo, only with Beckett’s perception of what “cargo” is. Jack Sparrow is a pirate through-and-through, causing him to do some questionable criminal acts in the name of liberty and enjoyment, yet Jack has moral standards that frame the Pirates of the Caribbean character as rather heroic. Compared to Beckett, who has a twisted view of people’s worth, Jack Sparrow looks morally good. Subsequently, Pirates of the Caribbean kind of wasted the East India Company’s villain potential by cutting darker scenes like these.

Without This Scene, A Lot Of Pirates Of The Caribbean Is Left Unexplained

Jack’s Debt, Beckett’s Connection, And The Black Pearl’s Appearance…

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is full of fantastic lore, making its world feel varied and very detailed, which is partly the reason why the swashbuckling films are so well-loved. However, there are actually quite a few mysteries and plot holes within the Pirates of the Caribbean movies that are never fully explained. From Davy Jones’ apparent resurrection at the end of ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales, to issues regarding the Aztec medallion, plot holes have never really proved much of a problem for the franchise, as many can overlook minor things for the sake of movie magic.

On the other hand, At World’s End’s deleted scene would actually explain a lot about the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. For example, the films never really explain the full story behind the Black Pearl’s unique charred appearance, why Jack owes Davy Jones his soul, the significance of the 100 souls, or why Jack is so respected by some pirates. Furthermore, it is completely glossed over how exactly Lord Beckett seems to know and is familiar with Jack Sparrow, as it is obvious that Beckett knows Jack more than just learning of the famous pirate through word of mouth.

Consequently, At World’s End’s scene with Jack Sparrow and Lord Beckett talking about their past should be considered a pivotal moment in the franchise, and should’ve been kept in the movie. The deleted scene makes the other movies less confusing, as within just four minutes, a lot of backstories and unanswered mysteries are explained. As a result, the events of the first three movies make a lot more sense when given the proper context, and the scene fully justifies why a pirate like Jack should be considered a hero, cementing his status with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.