Kevin McNally, the actor who played Mr Gibbs in all five Pirates of the Caribbean films, has revealed how Johnny Depp overcame Disney's initial concerns about his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. The first film, The Curse of the Black Pearl, was released 23 years ago today and became a billion-dollar franchise, but the studio was far from confident during production.
Disney's Initial Doubts About Depp's Jack Sparrow
Disney had originally considered actors like Matthew McConaughey for the role, envisioning a character similar to Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate. Other names in the mix included Jim Carrey, Michael Keaton, and Christopher Walken. Robert De Niro turned down the part, fearing the film would flop like 1995's Cutthroat Island, which bankrupted Carolco Pictures.
Screenwriter Stuart Beattie wrote the role with Hugh Jackman in mind—hence the name Captain Jack—but the Wolverine star wasn't famous enough at the time. Instead, Disney cast indie actor Johnny Depp, who chose to base his character on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and Looney Tunes character Pepé Le Pew, rather than the cocky Burt Lancaster type the studio wanted.
Depp's Unconventional Approach and Studio Pushback
Speaking to GQ in 2018, Depp recalled Disney's hostility: “Disney hated me. [They were] thinking of every way they could to get rid of me, to fire me. ‘Oh, we’re going to have to subtitle him.’ ‘We don’t understand Captain Jack Sparrow. What’s wrong with him?’ ‘What’s wrong with his arms?’ ‘Is he drunk?’ ‘Is he mentally f***ing stupefied?’ ‘Is he gay?’”
McNally confirmed the tension, telling the Daily Express: “Oh yes definitely yeah. A lot of suits visiting asking what the hell was going on.” He added that Depp would even overdress the character, knowing he'd have to remove items, to ensure the flamboyant costume survived studio interference.
The Gamble Pays Off
Despite the worries, Depp's creative gamble succeeded spectacularly. The Curse of the Black Pearl grossed over $654 million worldwide and earned Depp an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. McNally noted: “But I think once we got our budget back within about a week, all their worries seemed to fade! And he got an Oscar nomination. I wish he’d got it actually.”
The film launched a franchise that has since generated over $4.5 billion globally, cementing Depp's Jack Sparrow as one of cinema's most iconic characters.
