Johnny Depp Should Be In Pirates of Caribbean 6, Says Mr. Gibbs Actor

Kevin McNally, who portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow’s loyal first mate Joshamee Gibbs, said Johnny Depp should appear in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean 6. McNally portrayed Mr. Gibbs in all five Pirates films. In June of 2020, Disney announced Pirates 6 would follow a brand new set of characters, with Margot Robbie leading the cast and Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey) penning the script.

Depp portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow in all five Pirates films. While he was just one of several leads in the original movie, Depp’s iconic portrayal as Sparrow was easily the Pirates‘ standout performance, and the subsequent films revolved more and more around the character. At this point, the Pirates franchise is arguably synonymous with Sparrow himself. However, the last couple of years have been tumultuous for Depp. He was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard, lost a high-profile libel court case against The Sun, and was asked to leave the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Despite Depp’s importance to Pirates, Disney is currently not planning on featuring Jack Sparrow in future films.

Speaking to fellow Pirates co-star Greg Ellis on his podcast The Respondent, McNally stated that Pirates 6 should still include Depp as Jack Sparrow. McNally noted it would be “criminal” to throw away what Depp had built up over the last five films, arguing that the actor created a “modern legend” through his portrayal as Sparrow. While acknowledging the new movie would be about new characters, McNally believes that doesn’t necessarily mean Sparrow shouldn’t make an appearance, even if it’s just a cameo. When asked if Depp should be in the new film, McNally said this:

“Yes is the simple answer to that. My feelings about this are very complex because in a sense there was a slight feeling that the franchise itself had played out a little bit, so a reboot is a reasonable idea. I don’t think a reboot, if you concentrate on younger characters, should still exclude Jack Sparrow.”

While many say there can’t be a Pirates film without Depp, some argue their reliance on Jack Sparrow has held back the recent movies. Regardless of Depp’s baggage, removing him from Pirates 6 might benefit the franchise. While Depp’s performance was generally well-received in all the Pirates films, the more recent ones have also been criticized for relying too much on his character.

The most recent Pirates film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, was critically panned. While Depp’s performance was still noted as a highlight, it’s generally agreed the franchise needs a shakeup to breathe new life into it. As for Depp’s involvement, there are no easy answers. If he were to be in the film, his involvement would most likely overshadow any other aspect of it, and considering the film is supposed to be about a new cast, that might not be the best move. However, a Pirates movie that inexplicably lacks Jack Sparrow would also be strange. While McNally’s comments ring true to the importance that Depp has to the franchise, at this point, it seems unlikely that Jack Sparrow will make an appearance in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. 

Source: The Respondent

About The Author