W hile the status of Jack Sparrow's return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is uncertain, the next potential entry in the saga must recall what made the original film a smash hit. It has ...

Jack Sparrow’s rejuvenation is a major part of that: “He’s not on the ocean anymore when we find him. He’s a land pirate and he’s miserable. He’s alone.

Jack Sparrow, and therefore the Pirates series, became inextricably linked to the maelstrom of Johnny Depp. When Depp and Sparrow-mania were at their peak from about 2007 to somewhere around 2012 ...