More than two decades after Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was released, legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer has revealed the little-known story of how Disney almost “bankrupted” the project because of Johnny Depp’s unorthodox portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. The film not only turned the theme park ride into a blockbuster that grossed more than $4.5 billion worldwide, but also redefined the image of pirates on screen.

In the early 2000s, when Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski were adapting Disney’s theme park rides into films, theme park-based productions were still notoriously difficult to pull off. Disney’s 2002 film The Country Bears flopped, leaving critics skeptical about the project’s success. Bruckheimer recalls that the press at the time dismissed the project as “clingy.”

Meanwhile, Johnny Depp brought a unique style to Jack Sparrow, inspired by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and Looney Tunes cartoon characters. In contrast to the prim and proper character in the original script, Depp brought a free-spirited, humorous, and unconventional swing to Jack. Bruckheimer himself was both amused and worried: “It’s fun, but oh my gosh, how are we going to handle this?”

The role was originally conceived as a Burt Lancaster-style hero, serious and humorless. Depp also decided to add gold teeth to the character, causing tension in meetings with Disney when he showed up with “all those gold teeth.” Although Depp eventually had his teeth removed, Disney still didn’t understand his distinct acting style.

The confusion reached a fever pitch when Disney saw dailies from the set. Studio executives were baffled by Depp’s gestures, slurred speech, and unsteady gait, and suggested a replacement. Bruckheimer quotes them as saying, “Oh my gosh, we’ve got to replace him. This isn’t right. Is he gay or drunk? What’s going on?” Disney worried that the character would alienate audiences, or not convey the friendly, fun image they wanted.

To salvage the situation, Bruckheimer and his team cut a sequence that clearly showed Jack Sparrow’s distinctive style, showing the humor and meaning of the overall story. “We cut a sequence and showed them why the character worked,” he said. When Disney saw the whole thing, they agreed to let the project continue.

The decision paid off: Johnny Depp received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and the film became a cultural phenomenon with four sequels.

Bruckheimer shared the story in a conversation about his career and new projects, including an F1 racing movie starring Brad Pitt. He emphasized that the role of a producer is “always having to sell an idea to studios, actors, and directors.” The story of Jack Sparrow illustrates the dramatic risk behind blockbuster success—where bold artistic decisions can make or break an empire.

Today, Jack Sparrow remains Depp’s signature role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise . While rumors of a sequel or a return for Depp continue to swirl, Bruckheimer’s story is a reminder that there was a time when the journey could have been very different. Filmmaking, he says, is “a constant struggle,” but when it works, the rewards are legendary.