Orlando Bloom's Will Turner was supposed to be the ultimate heartthrob of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. It would seem that in the first of the movies, The Curse of the Black Pearl, Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow took a little of that focus away from him.
But just because Captain Jack Sparrow is sarcastic, witty, a little bit drunk, and very charming, doesn't mean there's not also more to blacksmith Will Turner than meets the eye. Perhaps he doesn't seem as mysterious on the surface as the often failed pirate, but Turner does get the girl in the end, and it's not only because he looks like he at least bathes regularly.
He Is The Best Swordfighter
Pirates of the Caribbean is a series full of fantastic and memorable sword fights. Captain Jack Sparrow certainly didn't think he would be bested by a lowly blacksmith upon their first meeting but, despite Jack's experience, Will certainly stands up for himself.
If you ever listen to the film commentary you will learn that Will Turner is officially the best swordfighter in all of Pirates of the Caribbean (according to the screenwriters) and he certainly doesn't embarrass himself even as he sets out to sea with other experienced swordsmen.
Legolas vs. The Joker
When it came down to who would end up playing Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl the final casting came down to two well known and well-liked young actors who movie fans would have already been very familiar with.
While the role eventually went to Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom, heartthrob Heath Ledger was also up for the part. When it came down to the final decision, it was thought that, due to his portrayal of Legolas, Orlando Bloom would be even more recognizable as a star in the film.
All About Birds
When looking at the names of some of the main characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise you may notice a trend. Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann both have family names that relate to burds. While it may seem like Turner is the odd man out of the three main characters his name actually ties all of them together.
William Turner (besides being the best swordsman in the Pirates films) was a real-life ornithologist (a zoologist who studies birds). Some research and thinking certainly went into character names for the movies.
Will Turner's Tattoo
The "P" branded to Captain Jack Sparrow's wrist, confirming his status as a pirate, at least to the East India Trading Company, is perhaps the most famous mark or tattoo in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but it is not the only one to appear.
Orlando Bloom's real-life Lord of the Rings tattoo can be seen in a few instances in the films as well. The mark, the word for nine in Elvish, like Jack Sparrow's tattoo, is on Bloom's wrist, and can briefly be seen in a number of sword fights, including his first encounter in the blacksmith shop with Captain Jack Sparrow.
Captain Turner
The most famous captain in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise maybe Jack Sparrow himself, but William Turner shares his name with a famed real-life captain. William Thomas Turner was the captain of the RMS Lusitania, which was sunk by German U-boats during World War I.
The sinking killed nearly 1,200 passengers, though the captain himself survived, and played a large role in the United States entering World War I. It makes sense for Will to take over The Flying Dutchman from Davy Jones when you consider where the crew of the Flying Dutchman comes from.
A Surprise Kiss
In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, a very shocked looking Will Turner watches as his beloved Elizabeth kisses (and then betrays), Captain Jack Sparrow.
Will Turner's look of pure disbelief and confusion is genuine on the part of actor Orlando Bloom. It just so happens that Bloom was not given the script pages for the particular scene and thus did not know the kiss was planned and about to happen. The cameras were rolling and ready to catch his real-time reaction.
Liar's Dice
Liar's Dice, the game that Will Turner plays against Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, was not invented for the Pirates films, but rather, was a real game that has existed for many years.
There are a number of different versions, including the one that appears in the movie, and sometimes the game is even called Pirate's Dice. The game is said to have originated somewhere in South America.
American Born
Though both Orlando Bloom and Will Turner have British accents, what you might not know is that Will Turner was actually born in the United States, North Carolina to be exact. When Bootstrap Bill abandoned Will and his mother to go pirating, Will's mother took him back to England before she passed away.
Will, of course, returned to the Western Hemisphere when he was picked up in the middle of the ocean by a young Elizabeth Swann, her father, and their crew. Will Turner was already quite the seasoned traveler before he joined up with Captain Jack Sparrow.
Eight Year Friendship
Before Jack Sparrow comes barrelling into their lives, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann had known each other for eight years. Between picking Will up at sea and the Black Pearl attacking Port Royal the friends/lovers/married couple had known each other for nearly a decade. It's not some sudden whim of Will's that sends him off to rescue Elizabeth, it's an honest and long built relationship.
Fighting Teacher
By the time Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest hit theaters, Elizabeth Swann had come quite a long way from not being able to pull a sword off the wall of her home in Port Royal.
How did she learn her new skills? How did she become so fierce and able to hold her own amongst pirates, regulars and lords alike? Because Will Turner taught her how to sword fight.