Pirates of the Caribbean: Charting a New Course without Captain Jack – Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann to Set Sail?

Ahoy, mateys! Since the release of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” seven years ago, the beloved swashbuckling franchise has been adrift in uncharted waters. Though Disney remains eager to breathe new life into the series, their vision appears as murky as Davy Jones’ locker. As producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently revealed, there are two competing projects on the horizon: a reboot and a spin-off featuring Margot Robbie. But the biggest question remains—how can this iconic series stay buoyant without Jack Sparrow steering the ship?

Despite the uncertainty from the Disney C-suite, there’s an argument to be made that the franchise doesn’t necessarily need its infamous captain to thrive. As one Twitter user, @JesabelRaay, suggested, the compass should perhaps point toward Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). They argued, “I have no idea why we can’t just follow Will Turner & Elizabeth Swann on a new adventure in some kind of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN legacy sequel… Davy Jones could be the main antagonist once again as he was teased in the last film in an end credits scene.”

This notion seems to strike a chord with fans, echoing the sentiment that Jack Sparrow, brilliantly portrayed by Johnny Depp, was initially a supporting character. His role was the mischievous foil to the central love story and character arcs of Will and Elizabeth. Returning to this dynamic could not only simplify the convoluted narrative Disney currently grapples with, but also return the franchise to its treasured roots.

The latter installments—”On Stranger Tides” and “Dead Men Tell No Tales”—drifted off course, relegating fan favorites Will and Elizabeth to the background, which may explain their lukewarm reception. Critics weren’t kind, sinking those films’ ratings on Rotten Tomatoes to 33% and 30%, respectively. By sidelining the original duo and pushing Jack Sparrow into the limelight, the films lost some of their earlier magic that was anchored in Will and Elizabeth’s journey.

Bringing Davy Jones (Bill Nighy’s CGI-enhanced specter) back into the fold could buoy the franchise even further. His unexpected return, hinted at in the last film’s post-credits scene, would reestablish a much-loved villain and offer a narrative bridge to the earlier, lauded trilogy. Will and Elizabeth also remain a timeless Hollywood pair, with plenty of fans eager to see their journey continue.

So what say you, Disney fans? Should the next “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure sail without Captain Jack at the helm and focus on new tales with Will and Elizabeth instead? Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to pass this message in a bottle across the social media seas!