While the Pirates of the Caribbean film series became an iconic franchise thanks to the maverick genius of Johnny Depp, veteran actor Geoffrey Rush was equally instrumental in its blockbuster status. The Oscar winner who starred as the wily Captain Hector Barbossa in the 5 films, fed off Deppâs Jack Sparrow perfectly to create a brilliant chemistry.
Interestingly, Rush in addition to not initially comprehending the reasons for his return in the subsequent installments, confessed that he rejected the offer to play this now evergreen role. In a 2015 interview, Rush spoke about all this and the character that proved to be feather in his already crowded cap.
Geoffrey Rush Had This To Say About His Iconic Villain Role
If Johnny Deppâs Captain Jack Sparrow continues to be one of Hollywoodâs iconic characters, then Geoffrey Rushâs Captain Hector Barbossa can take equal credit for this feat. The Oscar-winning actor who provided the perfect foil for Deppâs eccentric portrayal, impressed audiences across the world with his over-the-top rendition of a memorable villain who matched the hero toe-for-toe.
Rushâs character was also significant enough to feature in all 5 films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The Australian veteran though, did not quite gauge the significance of his role and believed that his character met his end after being shot in the first film.
On realizing that he would return, Rush humorously revealed in an interview with The Guardian on his reasons behind the resurrection of his character in subsequent films.
I got shot in the first one. Then I thought, voodoo, thatâs what brings him back. It was interesting for me, because I sort of became a politician in one film, and then I worked for the king. They kind of let the character transform, because heâs a survivor.
The Kingâs Speech actor also stated that the seamless chemistry between Deppâs Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa was like a relationship between an old married couple sparring with each other.
Why This Pirates Of The Caribbean Veteran Almost Rejected The Franchise
It is hard to imagine anyone other than the legendary Geoffrey Rush playing the eccentric villain Captain Hector Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. As hard as it is to believe, the accomplished actor almost said no to being part of this iconic franchise when he was approached for the role.
In an interview with Inside The Magic, Rush spoke about being extremely impressed with the script when he was presented with it. But a prior commitment that he had made to star in the Australian stage production of Waiting for Godot was the reason behind him refusing the film at first.
So I remember writing a four-page email to my agent and it was titled something like ââI hope youâve got a strong cup of coffee and youâre sitting downâŠâ I have to politely, regretfully decline the offer. Itâs a wonderful script, but Iâm committed to this.â He then wrote me back an email that was about ten times longer, telling me âNo no no, you are going to do this project.
As it turned out, fate had other plans for Rush in the form of his agent who had the perfect instinct to realize that this opportunity to star in a massive franchise was not to be missed at any cost. The rest as they say, is history.
All 5 Pirates of the Caribbean films are streaming on Disney+
