One of the most iconic scenes in film history is and always will be Captain Jack Sparrow's (Johnny Depp) entrance in the original Pirates of the Caribbean film. Now that it's now four movies later, though, the franchise isn't what it used to be — a major reason being the loss of young lovers and pirates in training, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom). Disney seems to have gotten the message, though, since they announced Saturday, August 15, that Bloom is returning for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 , aka, Dead Men Tell No Lies. Is it possible that Will's return could bring the franchise back to its roots?
That remains to be seen, but it's a good start. When fans last saw Will, he was returning from his tenure as the cursed captain of The Flying Dutchman to reunite with Elizabeth and their 10-year-old son. The particulars of the curse are confusing: It suggests Will can only step foot on land once every decade, but the final scene suggested the curse could have been broken after the initial ten years and Will and Elizabeth were reunited. Whether he is still bound to the ship or will be drawn back into the action at Jack's insistence, having Will back is a major boost for the fifth entry in the franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed the plot of Dead Men Tell No Lies back in February 2015:
Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea, including him. Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.
Going of off what Disney has revealed so far, there are some interesting ways Will could affect the plot, and make this project something worth getting excited about.
Jack Seeks Out Will To Help Him With Salazar
Jack was once a mentor of sorts to Will, but if Will has been ferrying souls for more than a decade now, the guy knows his way around the pirate world. It would be very Jack to only look Will up in order to get his help — but in an interesting twist, if Will does play an integral part in helping Jack find the Trident, then Jack could be the one who sets Will free. That would mean the reunion in the final scene of the third movie took place because Jack became ruler of the seas. Not only would that bring cohesion back to the franchise, it would be a fitting end for Jack and Will's relationship.
Will Is On Hand To Pass The Torch To Brenton Thwaites' Character
There has been no confirmation on whether or not Knightley will reprise her role as Elizabeth, but even if she does, it would likely be for little more than a cameo. A cameo could be all that's needed to set up the next generation of Pirates of the Caribbean though. Brenton Thwaites looks so much like Bloom, it seems likely he could be playing Elizabeth and Will's son. His character's name is listed as Henry, but I am not going to let that dash my hopes that he's actually Will Turner III.
Henry leaving his mother to set sail in search of his father only to encounter the legendary Jack Sparrow would be a potentially awesome story line. Plus, when Henry sees his father and gets to do a bit pirating by his side, there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house (at least not from the longtime fans).
Will Has To Return To Ferrying Souls
On the flip side, Will may have already found a way to break the curse, not knowing that it left a gateway open for the souls lost at sea to cross between the living world and the dead at will. That would mean all of the pirates were in danger because of Will's actions, and could lead him to join forces with Jack in order to restore order to the seas. Will would have to leave everything he loves behind again and embrace the pirate's life once more — at least, long enough to set his mistake right.
Salazar Attacks The Flying Dutchman
Disney hasn't said whether Will will play a large role in the movie — he could show up almost entirely unexpectedly when Salazar lays siege to The Flying Dutchman. I love this scenario because it leaves the door open for a grizzled, pirate Will who could potentially even be scary. I would love to see Jack interact with an older, angrier version of Will who suffers no fools since he is the Captain of his own ship now.
In my dream world, Disney has found a way to bring back Will and Elizabeth, but even if the fifth installment only has Will, I am already 100 percent more interested in a new Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Images: Giphy (5)
