1. With Jack Sparrow, Less Is More
Walt Disney PicturesBack in 2003, audiences fell in love with Johnny Depp's quirky performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. While he's still an enjoyable creation, over a decade later Depp's oversaturation as Sparrow and his similarly oddball performances as characters like Willy Wonka, the Mad Hatter and Tonto have done a lot to dampen the desire to see the character again. Even further, On Stranger Tides' decision to put Sparrow front and center as the film's lead ultimately dulled what made the character so great in the first place as a wildcard rogue tangled up in someone else's tale (that of Will and Elizabeth Turner). The character is at its best, particularly in The Curse of the Black Pearl, when he's not the main focus of the film, nor required to carry the whole thing. Watching other characters react to his persona and decision-making is just as fun as not knowing what to expect from him next, especially when he's absent from several scenes. As the lead of the film, a lot of the mystery of the character is lost, in the process turning a character who works best in small doses into one that quickly wears out his welcome. Cranking back Sparrow's role into a similar vein as the original film would do a lot for both the character and the audience and give new leads a chance to shine. Considering, too, that Johnny Depp will eventually decide not to reprise the role -- one which audiences would likely not take to seeing recast -- the gradual phasing out of the character from the series would also allow it to continue on with other pirates of the Caribbean instead of it just being the Jack Sparrow show.