One of the most iconic and successful franchises of the new millennium was Walt Disney Pictures’ Pirates of the Caribbean series. Aside from the swashbuckling action, supernatural elements and beautiful setting, the film’s biggest draw was Johnny Depp’s portrayal as Captain Jack Sparrow. Now, almost twenty years since he first sauntered on screen, it’s hard to believe anyone else could fill his boots. However, that was almost what happened until veteran actor Robert De Niro turned down the role.
With Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl about to set sail, the film’s creators went through a list of potential actors. Some big names included Jim Carrey, The Princess Bride‘s Cary Elwes and even Christopher Walken. However, the creators eventually fell on Robert De Niro, offering him the role. But, reportedly, De Niro turned down the role as he felt that the film wouldn’t make any money.
At the time, Disney had never released films based on their famous ride and wasn’t in the market to tackle large franchises yet. Disney even considered releasing the film direct-to-video as there was an obvious risk in releasing a film based on a theme park ride. So, it ultimately made sense for De Niro, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, to turn down a film with such a high degree of uncertainty.
Thankfully, Johnny Depp was in the market for a more family-oriented role and gladly accepted the role in what is now considered one of the most iconic characters in his catalog. With Johnny Depp encapsulating the essence of what made the ride so fun and memorable, the franchise went on to release four sequels with him at the helm. Garnering so much popularity over the years, Sparrow was even included in the Disney ride in theme parks worldwide, proving that moviegoers still have room for swashbuckling pirate films.
Following the success of the series, De Niro tried to see if the pirate life was for him by taking the role of Captain Shakespear in the film adaption of author Neil Gaiman’s book, Stardust. While the film was by no means a disappointment, it didn’t earn nearly as much money as the Pirates franchise. Nevertheless, fans could get an idea of how his turn as Sparrow could’ve gone had he chosen to take the role.
Talking about Jack Sparrow is equivalent to mentioning Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; it can’t be done without mentioning the actor that brought the character to life. Depp is synonymous with the pirate. Now, in a world where the character and the actor can’t be separated, it’s hard to imagine how the films would turn out if De Niro had decided to take on the role.
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