Villainous ‘Pirates’ Actor Campaigns to Replace Johnny Depp

Fans have been clamoring for the return of Captain Jack Sparrow to the Pirates of the Caribbean world — but apparently another actor from the original cast has been waiting for a second chance, too!

Jack Davenport, the actor who played unexpected fan favorite Commodore James Norrington, is vying for a lead role in the next pirate film or pirate series that Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer have up their sleeve.

Davenport’s return would most likely be in the form of a prequel, since (spoiler alert) his character Commodore James Norrington dies to save his unrequited love, Captain Elizabeth Swann (played by Keira Knightley, who just might be making a return of her own in the next film).

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann in ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl’. Credit: Pinterest

The romance between Elizabeth and Norrington has been the subject of fanfiction and swoons ever since the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies first took the box office by storm, and Norrington’s shift from an uptight British soldier to an endearingly good man (with a penchant for unique, award-winning sword fights) was a favorite plot point among many Pirates enthusiasts.

While chatting with EW recently during an interview about The Accused, Jack Davenport did comment on the significant gap that Disney is encountering when it comes to Pirates 6. The Margot Robbie Pirates movie is apparently on the backburner indefinitely, and we have continued to hear nothing but rumors when it comes to the potential return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl’ Credit: Disney

Davenport laughingly joked in the interview that “a snowball in hell has a stronger chance of survival than the Commodore Norrington reboot”, but he did say “sure” to the idea. “Jerry [Bruckheimer], if you’re watching, which I know you’re not, I’m there. Yes, you can put me back in brigade, I’ll do it,” he added enthusiastically.

Jack Davenport as James Norrington (sometimes a commodore, sometimes not) in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007). Credit: PETER MOUNTAIN/DISNEY

As EW put it, “maybe a Disney+ series with a fan-favorite character could be as tempting to audiences as rum to a pirate”!

Would you like to see a prequel series about Commodore James Norrington, or see him return via some mysterious means like Captain Jack Sparrow did when he returned from Davy Jones’ locker?