Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow managed to win over fans, propelling the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise to new heights. The role even earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor. However, the film still couldn’t take on the popularity of another franchise led by Keanu Reeves.
The release of The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003 wasn’t expected to get an Oscar nod. Despite being a highly awaited film at the time, the film was a high-budget adaptation of a theme park ride, not a typical award-winning project.
Pirates of the Caribbean Couldn’t Beat Matrix Reloaded
The 2003 film The Matrix Reloaded stands as Keanu Reeves’ highest-grossing film. During its opening weekend, the film raked in $91.8 million in the US and $123.4 million worldwide. By the end of its theatrical run, the film managed to collect $281.6 million domestically and $742.1 million worldwide.
Besides, Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean also managed to pull the masses to theaters, well on its way to becoming one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. However, its plans were derailed by Keanu Reeves’ The Matrix Reloaded.
According to The Secret World of Johnny Depp:
“With a $305 million gross in America and another £27 million in Britain, where it ran second only to The Matrix Reloaded as the biggest box office hit of the year, one could hardly say that it had outstayed its welcome.”
A big credit for the film’s success goes to its captivating storyline and talented actors. The biggest of them all was the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, who sees the Caribbean’s waters, looking for his next adventure and unraveling the mysteries of the sea.
Johnny Depp Might Never Return As Jack Sparrow
In 2022, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial came to an end, and it seems that Depp is willing to make a comeback to the big screen. As per reports, the actor could return to the Pirates franchise if he finds the script to be impressive, despite previously mentioning that he would never work with the studio.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer stood by Johnny Depp’s side and shared details about the project while speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Academy Awards.
He told ET:
“We’re all working on it [the next Pirates film]. We’ll see how it comes out. We’re very excited, I think we’re gonna have a great screenplay when, and we’re getting close…I would love to have him in the movie – that’s all that I can tell you.”
The sixth film in the franchise is said to be in the works, with Craig Mazin, the creator of The Last of Us, working on the script with Ted Elliott. Previously, there were reports of a Pirates spin-off featuring Margot Robbie, but any other details on the matter are scarce.
