Johnny Depp might not be returning as Captain Jack Sparrow, but Disney isn’t about to throw out the super lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise along with him. The challenge the studio will face, though, is populating their reboot movies with characters that are as beloved as those from the earlier films, such as Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, Geoffrey Rush’s Hector Barbossa and, of course, Sparrow himself.
Maybe the smart thing to do, then, would be to hit the history books and introduce more real-life pirates into the universe. Insider Daniel Richtman has shared a new rumor on his Patreon page claiming that this is exactly what Disney is planning, and while he doesn’t specify any particular historic plunderers and privateers that might be popping up in future films, according to his intel, this is indeed their intention.
This adds up with what we’ve heard before, too. We know a female-led reboot is on the way and some reports have said it’ll feature a red-headed heroine in the lead, with Karen Gillan having been linked to the part. Certain sources say this could be Anne Bonny, a notorious female pirate who operated in the Caribbean in the early 1700s along with her lover Captain John Rackham AKA Calico Jack. The couple also had another female pirate, Mary Read, in their crew.
While this potential Gillan vehicle is still in flux, a spinoff starring and produced by Margot Robbie is enjoying much plainer sailing. Robbie’s character – who may end up being queer – is unknown at this stage, but if we’re to believe this rumor, maybe she’s based on an IRL pirate, too. If Anne Bonny is the star of the reboot, it’s possible she’s playing Mary Read.
Neither of these Pirates of the Caribbean projects are far enough along yet to be given release dates, but we will indeed return to the seven seas at some point in the next few years. And we might get a history lesson when we do.
