Disney's Biggest Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Challenge Isn't Replacing Johnny Depp, It's Ending A 4-Movie Trend

Filling Johnny Depp’s shoes in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will be no easy task, but after a concerning four-movie trend, this won’t even be the greatest obstacle for Disney’s next installment. Depp’s Jack Sparrow is an iconic feature of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but it’s currently unclear whether this character will make a return. While the best-case scenario would see, at the very least, a cameo, there’s plenty of indication that Johnny Depp alone won’t be enough to guarantee Pirates of the Caribbean 6‘s success.

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been at a standstill for the better part of a decade, with the fifth installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, being released in 2017. Since then, Disney has faced significant controversy. Depp was dismissed from his role due to the ongoing legal conflict with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, and even once things had settled down, the actor said he wouldn’t return for any amount of money. However, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean troubles started long before there was any question of Depp’s involvement with the franchise.

Pirates Of The Caribbean Has Been On A Downward Trend Since The First Movie & 6 Needs To Fix It

Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Sequels Never Added Up To The Original

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was a surprising success. The film established Depp’s beloved character and introduced a world far beyond the amusement park ride on which the movie was based. The Curse of the Black Pearl brought in $305 million domestically, easily opening the door to further sequels. Critics also greatly approved of this first Pirates movie, and the film holds an 86 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, while success continued in some aspects, the franchise saw the start of a downward trend immediately after this initial 2003 movie.

The sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, outperformed its predecessor at the box office (primarily due to the hype following the first film), but its critical reception didn’t quite stack up. Jack Sparrow remained a great character, but the sequel had lost some of its flavor—a certain thrill that continued to dwindle with each new release. Reviews got worse with every film, and box office numbers never again came close to the $423 million of Dead Man‘s Chest. By the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017, Disney’s domestic box office sat at only $173 million and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 60%.

Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Downward Trend Is A Problem Whether Johnny Depp Returns Or Not

Johnny Depp Isn’t Enough To Save The Franchise

Looking at the trend that started with Pirates of the Caribbean‘s very first sequel, it’s clear that Disney is facing a problem with this franchise whether or not Johnny Depp returns. After all, the actor has been a constant presence throughout the franchise, but reception has gone down regardless. As beloved as Jack Sparrow and his quirky antics are, this character alone has already proven that he isn’t enough to bring audiences back to the theaters or garner critics’ approval.

Therefore, as Disney continues to prepare for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, it will have to find a way—aside from getting Depp on board—to limit the financial risk. Yet another sequel that falls short would essentially be the final nail in this franchise’s coffin, especially after all these years. Pirates of the Caribbean 6 can’t just be better than Dead Men Tell No Tales. If there is any hope in revitalizing this series, the upcoming Disney film must outperform all four of Curse of the Black Pearl‘s sequels.

What Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Can Do To Beat The Previous 4 Sequels

Disney Has To Tap Back Into The Original Formula

While Depp’s return wouldn’t make Pirates of the Caribbean 6 a shoo-in, it can’t be denied that Jack Sparrow carries some weight. It’s no wonder that Disney has changed its tune about Depp, neither confirming nor denying that he could be in the upcoming film. Depp’s appearance, whether as a lead or cameo character, would undoubtedly draw audiences back to the theaters thanks to the nostalgia factor of his role. However, Dead Man’s Chest already proved that a good theatrical turnout isn’t enough—Disney must make Pirates of the Caribbean 6 a good movie that’s comparable to Curse of the Black Pearl.

Nostalgia is certainly key here. Movies have come a long way since Curse of the Black Pearl, but the almost simplistic campiness of the film went leagues beyond the over-the-top CGI of Dead Men Tell No Tales. It’s important that Disney use this film as a sort of homage to the original 2003 movie that set the bar so high, leaning into everything that made it a thrilling and entertaining guilty pleasure. Of course, a great cast is important as well, whether that includes Depp, Orlando Bloom, or Keira Knightley or not. It will be an uphill battle, but it’s exciting to see what Disney will come up with for Pirates of the Caribbean 6.