Time flew by, and it was now February 2002.
Aside from the near-drowning incident with Johnny Depp early on, the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean had gone remarkably smoothly over the past four months. Most of the movie was already in the can, with just one major scene left: the climactic duel atop the mast, designed by Luke himself.
It was nighttime, and this scene was set to be shot under the cover of darkness.
"Luke, I need to ask you one more time—are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?" Director Verbinski asked, trying to dissuade him.
"Of course," Luke replied. "We've done so much prep for this. How could I back out now?"
Four months ago, Luke had convinced Verbinski with his detailed action choreography plan. To ensure the scene's success, the crew members acting opposite him had undergone extensive training. Everyone involved had also gotten used to working at heights of over 100 feet to carry out their roles.
Despite all the preparation, Verbinski was still nervous as the shoot approached. After months of working together, he'd come to fully respect Luke and couldn't help but worry for him.
"You're just gonna let him take this risk?" Verbinski asked, turning to Mr. Eisen, Luke's manager and the film's producer, hoping he'd talk some sense into him.
Eisen shook his head, his face expressionless. "If it's what he wants, I'm behind him 100%. We just have to trust he can pull it off."
Luke jumped in, saying, "Director, if we nail this scene, it'll take the movie to a whole new level. It's a win for all of us!"
Verbinski didn't push further. He just clapped Luke on the shoulder. "Good luck. We all owe you one."
Sure, if Luke pulled this off, everyone would benefit. But what if he didn't? He was taking on all the risk for a reward they'd all share. That kind of selflessness was hard not to admire.
At that moment, Johnny Depp squeezed through the crowd. "Luke, I still owe you for saving my life, and now I owe you another one. Once we wrap, I'm throwing a dinner and inviting some of Hollywood's hottest actresses. Got anyone in mind?"
Luke chuckled and shook his head. That was classic Johnny Depp, the charming rogue, tossing out promises like that. He ignored the comment's jinx-like vibe.
"How about Natalie Portman?" Depp said with a mischievous grin. "Harvard grad, brains and beauty—perfect match for you."
The little girl from Léon: The Professional had grown into a stunning woman. She'd starred in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones a couple of years back and was one of Hollywood's most in-demand actresses. A beautiful, brainy scholar like her was a rare gem—hardly surprising, considering how much people loved that archetype. It was like Korea's Kim Tae-hee, who'd followed a similar path to massive popularity and an air of sophistication.
"Nah, I don't need the drama," Luke said, brushing it off.
"Fair enough. That crowd can be trouble," Depp said, undeterred. "But I know this 5'9" model, Miranda Kerr. She's got an angelic face. Interested?"
Luke nearly burst out laughing. He'd already taken Orlando Bloom's role—now he was supposed to go after his future wife, too? No way, man.
"That's not my type, but thanks," Luke said with a grin.
"Alright, alright," Depp relented. "I appreciate the gesture, but right now, I'm focused on nailing this scene."
"I've checked all the safety measures myself, multiple times," Verbinski chimed in. "Luke, just prioritize your safety. If anything feels off, don't push it. We've got that backup version we shot, and it's honestly pretty solid."
The backup plan was a less risky version of the scene Luke had already filmed. If this high-stakes version didn't work out, they'd use that one instead. Shooting this scene last was a deliberate choice to minimize the film's overall risk. After all, Luke was one of the movie's two leading men. If he got injured and delayed or derailed production, the losses would be catastrophic.
Luke nodded at the director's concern. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'm gonna head up and get ready."
With that, he leaped onto the main mast, climbing it like a nimble monkey. Over the past few months, he'd spent every spare moment practicing on the mast, getting familiar with its layout and honing his balance. Now, scaling it felt as natural as walking into his own home.
The Black Pearl had three masts, with the main one standing 108 feet tall, supporting three massive sails fixed to four crossbeams. Tonight's duel was set on the topmost wooden crossbeam.
Luke quickly reached the top, where Bob, already waiting, extended a hand to pull him up. They sat together on the beam, gazing at the moon, which shone like a silver disk, casting a shimmering glow across the sea.
What a view, Luke thought, and here I am sharing it with another dude.
Looking down from that height, the deck below was a dizzying drop, with Verbinski and the crew looking like tiny specks. The night sea breeze howled, making the sails flap loudly, and the mast swayed constantly—a nightmare for anyone with a fear of heights. But Luke and Bob were unfazed, casually chatting as if they were lounging on a park bench.
"This is your moment to shine," Luke said, glancing at Bob, who was dressed as the pirate captain.
Bob was standing in as the villain, Captain Barbossa, for this scene, facing off against Luke's Will. The actual actor, Geoffrey Rush, was in his fifties—hardly suited for a high-stakes action scene at this height. Even if Rush had been game, Luke wouldn't have agreed. Some things were best left to professionals.
With makeup and a fake beard, plus the pirate captain's hat, Bob was a convincing double for Barbossa, as long as the camera didn't zoom in on his face. He and Luke had rehearsed this fight countless times, their coordination now seamless.
"Remember what I told you?" Luke asked.
"I know, I know," Bob replied. "If something goes wrong, I'll do exactly what you said. But, man, aren't you worried about jinxing yourself talking like that?"
Plenty of stunt performers were superstitious, avoiding talk of worst-case scenarios to steer clear of bad luck.
"You don't get it," Luke said with a smirk. "I'm playing the reverse-jinx card."