Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Movie
STUDIO Disney
RELEASED 2006

Once again we're plunged into the world of sword fights and 'savvy' pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow is reminded he owes a debt to Davy Jones, who captains the flying Dutchman, a ghostly ship, with a crew from hell. Facing the 'locker' Jack must find the heart of Davy Jones but to save himself he must get the help of quick-witted Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. If that's not complicated enough, Will and Elizabeth are sentenced to hang, unless Will can get Lord Cutler Beckett Jack's compass. Will is forced to join another crazy adventure with Jack.

Knowledge

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Banned Over the Cannibal Scene

The film's stop on the cannibal island wasn't just unsettling for some audiences, it got the movie banned outright in China, where censors objected specifically to the cannibalism content.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Genuinely Shocked by Barbossa

The cast's stunned reactions in the film's final scene weren't acted. Everyone had been told that Zoe Saldaña's Anamaria was the one who'd walk out at the end, so their surprise at seeing Geoffrey Rush's Barbossa instead was completely real.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

An Accent Coached From Home

Tia Dalma speaks with a partial Jamaican accent, and that's no coincidence. Naomie Harris's own mother is Jamaican and worked as her dialect coach to help her nail the sound during production.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

The Jar of Dirt Was Unscripted

Jack Sparrow's now-famous line about having a jar of dirt wasn't in the script at all. Johnny Depp ad-libbed it on the spot, and the confused, amused reactions from the rest of the crew on camera are completely genuine.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Davy Jones Almost Looked Very Different

Bill Nighy wasn't the first name attached to Davy Jones. Richard E. Grant, Christopher Walken, Jim Broadbent, and Iain Glen were all in the conversation for the role before Nighy was eventually cast.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Keith Richards Missed His Cue

Keith Richards was originally supposed to make a cameo in this film, but touring commitments got in the way and he had to bow out. He'd eventually show up as Jack Sparrow's father a couple of sequels later instead.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Anamaria Never Came Back

Anamaria was actually written back into the script for this film, but Zoe Saldaña turned it down. She's said her time on the first movie was rough enough that it nearly put her off acting altogether, and she decided it wasn't worth returning for.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Pirates in Your Happy Meal

The film got the full fast-food tie-in treatment, with McDonald's releasing a set of eight Happy Meal toys based on it, plus another set a couple of years later blending in elements from the theme park ride too.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Source

Accents That Don't Match the Actors

There's a fun bit of casting irony hiding in the film. Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård plays the very English Bootstrap Bill Turner, while English actor Bill Nighy plays the distinctly Scottish-sounding Davy Jones.