The news broke that Margot Robbie's attempted reboot, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, it felt as though the series had run out of steam. But the box office of the latest film was still good, meaning there is still an appetite from the audience for more, should the right project arise.
Margot Robbie's POTC, which she was developing alongside Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson, was a chance to inject new life into the nearly 20-year-old franchise and do something a bit different. It would have been more of a female-led film, and as Robbie proved with her version of Harley Quinn, she is more than a good choice to front an action/adventure franchise. Robbie is one of the biggest stars out there at the moment and canceling a Pirates project with her at the center seems like a mistake, especially as it could lead to a new franchise of films itself.
Margot Robbie's POTC Exit Makes Johnny Depp's Return More Likely
Johnny Depp has previously said he would never return to another Pirates of the Caribbean film, but time may change his stance. Whether he does or doesn't return, and all the drama going on in his personal life aside, the Pirates franchise became stale under him. Captain Jack Sparrow started out as a side character that was so entertaining and engaging, it got Depp an Oscar nomination. Gone are those days. Jack Sparrow got more and more screen time as the films went on, to the point there was no disputing he was the main character. While it is still up in the air if he will return, the Margot Robbie news does make it more possible than it was before.
What Next For The Pirates Of The Caribbean Franchise?
With the cancelation of the Margot Robbie reboot, it is unclear where Pirates will go next. Other versions of Pirates 6 have been rumored for some time, like a Karen Gillan starring film. In this version, Craig Mazin and Ted Elliot were supposedly working on a script to bring new life into the franchise, but the status of those other projects is unknown at this point.
Another way forward could be to bring back Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom without Depp for a sequel and tell a new, different story. Maybe another female-led ensemble could work, just not the same one as Margot Robbie's reboot. One thing is for certain, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise needs a fresh take to make it relevant again, whether that's a reboot or a sequel of sorts. Let's hope Disney has something else great planned.
