In many ways, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is the swashbuckling equivalent to Michael Bay’s Tranformers movies, in that they made a lot of money and kept on going despite few critics having kind words to say about them, but after the fifth film marked a dip in box office numbers, it became clear that the same old formula had started to wear thin with moviegoers.
Whether or not the Disney series can have its own Bumblebee-style moment of redemption remains to be seen, but if you want a clear sign that the planned Pirates reboot is serious about giving a clean slate to the series, a new piece from The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the old rumor that Johnny Depp will not be reprising his role as Captain Jack Sparrow.
In an interview with Disney’s film production chief Sean Bailey, the producer discussed the upcoming project from Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and expressed confidence that the series didn’t need Depp to succeed.
“We want to bring in a new energy and vitality,” Bailey said. “I love the [Pirates] movies, but part of the reason Paul and Rhett are so interesting is that we want to give it a kick in the pants. And that’s what I’ve tasked them with.”
While we’ve yet to receive official details on the next movie’s protagonist, a report from last month alleged that a female pirate will serve as Jack’s successor, with one rumor being that the heroine is a character named Redd who was recently added to the Pirates rides at Disney Parks.
That’s just hearsay for now, but regardless of who takes the lead for the next installment, you can already see the backlash from fans who find it hard to imagine a Pirates of the Caribbean movie without Depp. Still, given the controversy surrounding the actor – not to mention a lot of viewers tiring of Jack’s well-worn shtick – it’s not hard to see why Disney feels the time is right for some fresh blood.
