Will Turner
A blacksmith's apprentice who becomes a pirate to free his father from Davy Jones.
William Turner Jr. is a fictional character in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. He appears in The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), At World's End (2007), and makes a cameo in the post-credits scene of Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). He is portrayed by Orlando Bloom (and as a child by Dylan Smith in the prologue of The Curse of the Black Pearl). William Turner is a blacksmith's apprentice working in Port Royal, Jamaica.
He secretly loves the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann, although he occupies a lower social class than she does. Will is the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner, and he works to free his father from service to Davy Jones. He marries Elizabeth Swann in At World's End, and they have a son named Henry. Alongside Hector Barbossa, Turner serves as an additional foil to Jack Sparrow's character, taking the role of the straight man with his subdued, good-natured personality.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Portrayed by
- Orlando Bloom (adult); Dylan Smith (adolescent)
- Voice
- Crispin Freeman
- First
- The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Blacksmith; Captain of the Flying Dutchman (temporarily)
- Spouse
- Elizabeth Swann
- Children
- Henry Turner (son)
Lore & Background
Will's life is defined by the debt owed to Davy Jones. When his father, Bootstrap Bill Turner, failed to pay the price for passage on the Flying Dutchman, Will inherited that obligation. This curse forces him to confront the supernatural elements of the pirate world, including the cursed crew of the Black Pearl and the wrath of the East India Trading Company. The turning point in his existence occurs when he chooses to take up the mantle of Captain instead of allowing Elizabeth to suffer the same fate.
By stabbing Jones with a special dagger during a duel on the maelstrom's edge, Will fulfills the established rule of succession: the killer becomes the new captain. This binds him to the ocean depths, granting him immortality but separating him from humanity. His story concludes not with a century-long service, but when his son Henry uses the Trident of Poseidon to break his curse, freeing him from his duty as captain of the Flying Dutchman and allowing him to reunite with Elizabeth and live a mortal life again.
Reader's Guide
Will Turner begins as a skilled blacksmith's apprentice in Port Royal, motivated by honor and love for Elizabeth Swann. His arc transforms him from a reluctant hero into a committed pirate who accepts the burden of immortality to protect his family. He possesses exceptional swordsmanship, rivaling even Jack Sparrow, and demonstrates immense courage when facing supernatural threats like Davy Jones and Calypso. His defining moment occurs when he sacrifices his freedom to become the new captain of the Flying Dutchman, ensuring Elizabeth's safety and breaking the curse on the Black Pearl. This choice binds him to the sea for a century, allowing him only one day on land each year. Ultimately, his journey concludes with redemption; by defeating Jones and fulfilling his duty, he earns release from the curse alongside Elizabeth, finding peace after years of torment as a guardian between worlds.
Did You Know?
- Will grew up believing his father to be a merchant seaman.
- Will is an exceptional, self-taught swordsman; the DVD commentary states he is the best among the characters in the film, including Barbossa, Norrington, and Jack Sparrow.
More in Pirates & Heroes
Elsewhere in Pirates of the Caribbean
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