With four films under its belt, and a fifth on the way, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has a great deal of history and lore that they have built, most of it around the iconic character of Captain Jack Sparrow. We know from the trailers that we're going to see a much younger version of Captain Jack, giving us something of an idea what he was up to many years before the events of the films. However, the fact is the movies have already told us a lot about him, but it's also left many questions unanswered.
We're actually wondering if Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' flashback sequence (or sequences if there's more than one) might answer some long-standing questions about the character and the events that made him the slightly off-kilter man we know and love. Here are questions that we'd love to see addressed.
How Did Captain Jack Get Branded?
When Captain Jack Sparrow is introduced at the beginning of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, he's recognized as a pirate because he has the letter P branded into his arm. In the sequel, Dead Man's Chest, we learn who did the branding, Lord Cutler Beckett, but that's all we learn. The events as to how Sparrow was apprehended are still a mystery, and this is important because Jack Sparrow never gets caught for long. It may be the only time Sparrow was ever truly bested by an adversary, making it an important moment in the character's life.
What Did Jack Give Up To Get The Compass?
Again, this is a question with half an answer. The compass that shows its owner the location of that which they most desire was bartered away from Tia Dalma by Jack Sparrow at some point prior to the events of the first film. It's no wonder he would want it. Even if he had other uses for it beyond finding the Isle de la Muerte, who wouldn't want an object like that? But such a thing would have certainly had a high price. If it was bartered away, what did Jack have that was worth enough, that was of interest to an actual sea god, that he was also willing to give up?
How Did Jack Become A Pirate Lord?
One of the more interesting things that we learn about in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is the existence of the Pirate Lords. Nine pirates who seem to hold positions of power within an otherwise completely disparate group of people. What's even stranger is that Captain Jack Sparrow is one of them. Jack seems like the last person anybody would want to be a lord, including Jack. It's true his father has a position of importance with the Pirate Court, but which of the previous lords passed their piece of eight off to a guy like Jack Sparrow, and why would he take it?
What Happened To Jack's Mother?
Jack's family is weird. We only need to look as far as his father to know that. Keith Richards is a weirdo whether or not he's an actual pirate. But what of the woman who gave birth to his child? At one point in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Jack asks his father about his mother, and he reveals a shrunken head he keeps with him. Is that really her? If it is, what terrible events led to her ending up in that unfortunate condition? Jack seems to not be too disturbed by it. Was she like that for most of his life or has he already taken vengeance on those responsible?
What Is Jack's Real History With The Black Pearl?
While Jack Sparrow doesn't actually spend a great deal of time in command of the Black Pearl over the course of the films, it's clear that the ship is just about the most important thing in the world to him. In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest we learn that Sparrow actually traded his soul to Davy Jones in return for Jones raising the ship from the bottom of the sea, and allowing Sparrow to captain for 13 years. Was it already Jack's ship when it was sunk the first time? Why was it so important that he get that particular ship back? We don't really know. We know he'll still be working to get the Black Pearl back during the new film, so perhaps this question will finally be answered.
Did Jack Really Make A Mistake At The Fountain Of Youth?
In the finale of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Jack is faced with a choice. Save the life of Blackbeard, who he hates, or Blackbeard's daughter Angelica, who he loves. Both of them tell Sparrow to use the power of the Fountain of Youth to save Blackbeard, but he apparently gets his chalices confused and he saves Angelica instead. Both Angelica and Blackbeard accuse Sparrow of making the switch on purpose, but he claims it was an honest mistake. In the end, he is Captain Jack Sparrow so we can't trust his word, nor can be so sure that he wouldn't have made the right decision when the time came.
