AsPirates of the Caribbean 6has been confirmed to be a reboot, it will have the opportunity to break a trend that has let thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise down for its past five movies.Pirates of the Caribbeanwas based on a Disney ride, which may not sound like a successful premise, but the franchise became incredibly popular and there are nowfivePirates of the Caribbeanmovies. Part of the movie franchise’s success was undoubtedly Johnny Depp’s iconic character, Captain Jack Sparrow, but there were many other exciting maincharacters inPirates of the Caribbean.
The movie franchise has given viewers some unforgettable antiheroes and villains, like Bill Nighy’s octopus-headed captain Davy Jones, one of thebest villains inPirates of the Caribbean. The plots for the movies became more complicated over time, with different dimensions and even the sea goddess Calypso appearing as a central villain. However, despite the many improbable plots that thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies have introduced, there is one character setup that no movie has featured yet, and it is letting the franchise down.
The Secondary Female Characters Have Been Wasted In The Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies
Elizabeth Swann is a main character for the first threePirates of the Caribbeanmoviesand turns from a reluctant corset-wearing potential fiancée toPirate Lord and elected Pirate King. ThePirates of the Caribbeanmovies have never managed to give another female character a similarly fascinating story, despite having several opportunities. Angelica is formidable inOn Stranger Tides, but her story revolves around the two men in her life- her father, Blackbeard, and Jack. Carina Smyth is both smart and interesting but, like Angelica, her story is tied to her father and her love interest.
Released Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Female characters
2003
79%
86%
2006
53%
72%
2007
43%
2011
32%
54%
2017
30%
60%
Neither of the two other main female characters in thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies are human, which makes them unpredictable.Tia Dalma is the imprisoned goddess Calypso, who describes herself as “a woman as changing and harsh and untamable as the sea.” As Calypso is the embodiment of the sea, she could have been central to the plot of any of the movies, yet she is often treated as a comical character. Syrena is a mermaid but appears fragile while the other mermaids are predatory. The suspense that could have come from traveling with a dangerous creature was wasted, with Syrena having a stereotypical “The Little Mermaid” love story.
Margot Robbie’s Spinoff Isn’t The Only Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie That Needs More Women
The Curse Of The Black Pearl Already Set Up A Female Crew Storyline
Margot Robbie’sPirates of the Caribbeanspin-off appears more excitingthanPirates of the Caribbean 6, though both movies have been confirmed. While few details about Robbie’s spin-off are currently known, it has been suggested that the movie will include more female characters and possibly an all-female pirate crew. Still,it is essential thatPirates of the Caribbean 6also features more female charactersto avoid Margot Robbie’s spin-off being considered “the girl version” of the franchise. AsPirates of the Caribbean 6will be a reboot rather than a direct sequel, this should not be a difficult task.
InPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mr Gibbs tells Jack that “it’s frightful bad luck to have a woman aboard.”
Many existingfemale Pirates of the Caribbean characters could lead their own moviesafter stealing the show from Jack Sparrow, and thePirates of the Caribbeanlore would not need to change to incorporate more female characters.The previous movies established a potential plotline: women are considered bad luck. InPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mr Gibbs tells Jack that “it’s frightful bad luck to have a woman aboard,” which could set up a storyline involving a potential stowaway, or even an all-female pirate crew that is so dangerous that just seeing them is considered bad luck.
Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Approach To Female Characters Has Limited Them & Future Movies Can Do Better
The Worst Thing Both Upcoming Pirates Movies Can Do Is Try To Replace Jack Sparrow
All ofthe femalePirates of the Caribbeancharacters' storylines revolve around a man, limiting their growth and potential. Syrena was reduced to a stereotype, Tia Dalma’s failed romance subplot was more relevant to Davy Jones than to her, and Angelica never got to fulfill her potential as a pirate leader, endingOn Stranger Tideswith Jack still on her mind. Future movies have the chance to give female characters their own stories, and whileAngelica has been suggested as a Jack Sparrow replacement, this is the last thing that a futurePirates of the Caribbeanmovie should do.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Already Told You It Can Continue Without Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may have a difficult time continuing without Johnny Depp, but previous movies have shown how it is possible.
If Jack Sparrow does not return inPirates of the Caribbean 6,trying to replace him would be impossibleand would make his absence even more apparent. Instead,Kaya Scodelario could return to play Carina Smythe, Angelica’s backstory could be explored, or the franchise could introduce a new character. This might be the best option, as a total reboot could offer audiences a completely different character to Jack. IfPirates of the Caribbean 6is going to refresh the franchise, it needs a well-written cast of main characters, and more of them should be female.
