Pirates of the Caribbean is helmed as one of the most important IPs of Disney from which we haven’t received any content for a long period. One of the primary reasons behind the success of the franchise is its producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The producer who was already famous for heading projects like Top Gun and Armaggedon made some fruitful promises to Disney that manifested into one of the best franchises of all time.

Johnny Depp in a still from Pirates of the Caribbean
It is noteworthy that 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was the first PG-13 movie from the studio that usually featured strawberry worlds of animated characters or Disney princesses. Initially, the Johnny Depp movie was planned in a similar way before Jerry Bruckheimer entered the picture and made some incredible changes to the movie.

How did Jerry Bruckheimer help Disney in creating the Johnny Depp franchise?

Johnny Depp with Jerry Bruckheimer
As soon as Jerry Bruckheimer was attached to the movie, the initial Pirates of the Caribbean script was scrapped for being too bland and normal. He even admitted to Disney that the plot was too simple and he didn’t know what to do. The Bad Boys producer wanted to add a “supernatural spin” to the plot and hence brought the Shrek writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio on board who thought of adding the concept of a curse to it.

One of the major changes that Jerry Bruckheimer promised was the introduction of a PG-13 rating in the movie. Despite not having any s*xual themes, the film was rated PG-13 for its slight bloody and violent nature. The then Disney production chief Nina Jacobson said that she couldn’t let her 5-year-old son watch the movie- “I think it’s too intense and scary”. It was not the first time, the studio released a mature product but the former movies Touchstone Productions banner which primarily focused on mature movies like Pretty Woman and Splash. It was the first time for the Walt Disney Pictures banner.

According to the LA Times, as the introduction of the PG-13 banner in Walt Disney Pictures raised quite a buzz, Jerry Bruckheimer stated that the studio was evolving with time.
“They see all these huge movies that are acceptable to parents that are PG-13. They’re moving with the marketplace.”
Nonetheless, it was repeatedly made clear that the movie shouldn’t have “foul language, s*x or drug abuse”. Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook showed his trust in Bruckheimer as well. He said that with the inclusion of the producer, they knew they “would be making a thrill ride”. The 80-year-old producer was also determined to take in The Ring director Gore Verbinski and a star who is not a regular part of lighthearted family movies.

The role of Captain Jack Sparrow didn’t go to Johnny Depp at first

Johnny Depp
The role of Johnny Depp as the character of Captain Jack Sparrow is also huge in the success of the $4.5 billion franchise. Interestingly, the role that elevated Depp to international fame was not offered to him at first. It made rounds in the hands of several notable names like Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken, and Jim Carrey.

Although the character was written keeping Hugh Jackman in mind, his lack of popularity led Disney to cast a more popular face like Johnny Depp. Jerry Bruckheimer also felt that Johnny Depp was “an edgy actor” and would appeal to all the audiences.

Unfortunately, the studio was embroiled in controversy regarding the franchise when Johnny Depp won the defamation case against his former wife Amber Heard. Although Bruckheimer stated that a sequel and a spin-off are in development, it is quite evident that if Depp is absent, the movies are bound to face consequences from avid fans.

All the Pirates of the Caribbean movies can be streamed on Disney+.