The last Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out in 2017, and it’s not like that particular outing featuring Jack Sparrow and friends set the world on fire with excitement. That being said, fans won’t be waiting forever for a new Pirates film if one Disney exec has his way.
It can be easy to forget just how big of a swing the original Pirates of the Caribbean film was back in 2003. Director Gore Verbinski and super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer were betting big on the unproven box office draw of Johnny Depp to lead a $140 million production based on a theme park ride. Somehow, the Mouse House was pushing all their chips in on a blockbuster from the director of Mouse Hunt and The Ring featuring the guy from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Chocolat. By all means, it shouldn’t have worked out… but it did. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl came out of nowhere to be a huge financial success and launched a series of five films. Now, more than two decades later, another Pirates movie is finally coming to fruition.
Johnny Depp Needs To Return To Pirates Of The Caribbean, But Not As The Lead
Johnny Depp returning to Pirates of the Caribbean is the right move, but he should be in a smaller role.
During the Disney panel at SXSW on Saturday—which featured a guest appearance from Robert Downey Jr. no less—Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman spoke on all kinds of subjects under the Disney umbrella. While rumors of another Pirates film have been rampant for years, when someone of Bergman’s status speaks up, people are sure to take notice. The Hollywood Reporter was on-hand for the panel and Bergman had this to say about the upcoming project: “Look, we’re going to be making another Pirates movie. So it’s just great. It really is great.”
What Will The New Pirates Of The Caribbean Film Be?
Will The Real Jack Sparrow Please Stand Up?
So, Bergman has confirmed that a new Pirates flick is on the way. What exactly will this new film look like? Could it be the spinoff film featuring Margot Robbie that was announced all the way back in 2020? The status of that particular movie is murky at best as there have been conflicting reports claiming that the film is both on and off. Perhaps the picture Bergman is referring to is the reboot that is set to overhaul the entire franchise? Depp is no spring chicken and the pirate’s life seems to be a young person’s game. Perhaps starting over from scratch isn’t the worst idea in the world.
Of course, Jerry Bruckheimer is still at the helm of all this nonsense, and he has seemingly been wanting Depp’s Jack Sparrow to return. Does Disney want back in the Johnny Depp business following the lengthy, highly-publicized court case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard? Does it make sense to continue going ahead with a blockbuster franchise that has the 61-year-old Depp as the lead? Given the lengthy pre-production process surrounding the next Pirates film, it seems pretty clear Disney is still working through these questions themselves.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is currently available to stream on Disney+.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter