Although Pirates of the Caribbean seemingly ended in 2017, exciting developments are underway. A major director has confirmed that two more movies will be added to the franchise.
Since the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie, fans have eagerly awaited a new installment. After years without confirmation, there is finally good news: not just one, but two movies are now in the works.
While promoting Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F., producer Jerry Bruckheimer told ComicBook.com that a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie is in the works. Interestingly, this one will be a reboot. He confirmed that they are currently developing the script, which should be completed in “a month or so”. However, the decision lies with Disney on whether the script meets their standards, which Bruckheimer hopes it will. Additionally, he confirmed another movie is planned, which will follow the events of Dead Men Tell No Tales, and he will be directing it as well.
“We have a script that’s being written right now. Hopefully it’ll come in in a month or so , and it’ll be as good as I think it will be. So let’s hope that Disney likes it and they give us an opportunity to make it.”
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which began in 2003, was initially meant to end with its fifth movie in 2017. However, after the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, it became clear that the franchise was not finished just yet. Speculation about another movie has been circulating for some time, and now it is confirmed that two new movies are in development. Regarding the reboot, Jerry Bruckheimer explained that they are currently working on the script, and he hopes Disney executives will be satisfied with it, allowing production to move forward. He also confirmed that neither of the new movies will feature Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Due to recent controversies involving Depp, Disney has decided to sever ties with the actor. Bruckheimer mentioned that if it were up to him, Depp would return, but Disney’s decision stands. Additionally, Bruckheimer confirmed that Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner) will not be returning to their roles. Instead, a new cast will be introduced. The primary reason for this change appears to be scheduling conflicts, making it easier to assemble a new ensemble rather than waiting for the availability of certain actors.
The first news about another Pirates of the Caribbean movie emerged right after the fifth movie, when Joachim Rønning, co-director of Dead Men Tell No Tales, was set to return alongside Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. However, this project fell through due to creative differences, leading to the idea of a reboot instead. In late 2019, Disney brought on Ted Elliott, who worked on all the previous scripts, and Craig Mazin, co-creator of The Last of Us, to create a new script. Although Disney purchased their script, it was affected by the Writers Guild of America strike and never progressed further. Finally, there is some movement and potential development. As for the other project, a completely separate movie is also planned. This one is rumored to be a female-led spin-off of the original franchise, with Margot Robbie being eyed for the lead role and Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee) writing the screenplay. While Robbie previously stated that the project is dead, this has not been confirmed. Nothing more is known about the plot of either movie, but it seems they will not be released anytime soon. Ultimately, the fate of any new Pirates of the Caribbean movies depends on Disney’s decisions.