Fans are beginning to uncover a ‘dark’ backstory for Captain Jack Sparrow that they hadn’t realized before.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise made its debut with The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, leading to a cult fan following and five additional films featuring stars such as Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley.
Even though it’s been over eight years since the last film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, released in 2017, viewers have only recently discovered a hidden backstory for Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Depp, which explains why he’s often seen as the ‘bad guy’ by other characters, a detail that wasn’t made clear in the movies.
According to Corner of Film, a deleted scene sheds light on why Sparrow is labeled as the ‘worst pirate’ throughout the series.
In the films, Sparrow is frequently called the ‘worst’ pirate, despite demonstrating competence in key pirate skills such as sailing, navigating, and drinking rum.
For example, during his first appearance, Commodore Norrington describes him as ‘the worst pirate [he’s] ever seen.’
However, the publication suggests that the nickname might not be as insulting as it seems.
A crucial piece of information is revealed in Sparrow’s conversation with Cutler Beckett.
While working as a privateer for the East India Trading Company, Sparrow was tasked with transporting a ship named the Wicked Wench with supposed ‘cargo.’
Upon discovering the ship was actually carrying 100 slaves, Sparrow freed them and took off with the vessel.
In the deleted scene, Sparrow declares: “People aren’t cargo, mate.”
As a result of Sparrow’s actions, Beckett’s career suffered, leading him to brand Jack with a ‘P’ mark, labeling him a pirate for ‘stealing’ the Wicked Wench.
In retaliation, Beckett ordered Jack’s cherished ship to be burned and sunk to the bottom of the sea.
In the deleted scene, Beckett comments, “The last I saw of that ship she was on fire, a blackened hulk sinking beneath the waves.”
Sparrow worked tirelessly to revive the ship, even making a pact with Davy Jones, the near-immortal god of the afterlife, who agreed to bring the ship back under the condition of exchanging 100 souls.
After the vessel was damaged by the fire and ended up with a blackened hull, Sparrow renamed it the Black Pearl and was forced to use it for piracy.
Despite Sparrow’s selfless act of freeing the slaves, being labeled a ‘bad’ pirate suggests it’s not entirely derogatory.
Instead, fans believe he was considered ‘bad’ because he didn’t fully embrace the traditional pirate lifestyle of plundering, stealing, and pursuing personal gain.
This revelation comes amidst ongoing rumors about a possible sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Earlier this year, the producer hinted at a potential return, expressing hope that much of the beloved cast, including Knightley and Bloom, would reprise their roles.