Although the future of the Pirates of the Caribbean series is currently uncertain, you can incredible success not dispute. The story of Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the most popular to emerge from 21st-century blockbuster cinema. Disney did not expect this success.
The origin story of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film is long and complicated. In retrospect, it may be hard to believe: Originally, Disney boss Michael Eisner wanted them Cancel production of the film and bury the project forever, as Collider summarizes in a report.
Bad Buzz: Pirates of the Caribbean starring Johnny Depp was headed for total disaster
Pirates of the Caribbean was ill-fated at the time. The buzz the film generated in Hollywood wasn’t a good one and caused Eisner book pains. A pirate film with a fantasy twist? After the mega flop of The Pirate Bride in the mid-1990s, no major studio had dared to approach the genre.
You can watch the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean here:
Pirates of the Caribbean – Trailer (German)
Additionally, at the time, there was little question that Johnny Depp had the star power to lead a $140 million blockbuster. The studio was hoping for a Burt Lancaster, but got an eccentric Keith Richards blend: Eisner was appalledwhen he saw the first shots of the shooting.
The mainstream phenomenon that Pirates of the Caribbean has become over the years was unimaginable at Disney in the early 2000s. Rather, everyone was preparing for a total catastrophe. Last but not least, the complete project stood under great time pressurein order to be able to keep to the planned theatrical release.
Pirates of the Caribbean was a big risk for Disney in 2003. Ultimately, the risk and the persistence of the creative – above all director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer – paid off. The first installment spawned a $4.5 billion film series.
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Are you glad the Pirates of the Caribbean series exists?