In the 2000s, Pirates of the Caribbean was invincible. Although the pirate film was declared dead after The Pirate Bride’s mega flop, the Film adaptation of the Disney attraction into one of the most successful film series ever. The first sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean – Pirates of the Caribbean 2, passed the billion mark, parts 3 and 4 were on a similar level.
But even with Part 4, the first film after the original trilogy, there was a massive drop in quality before the franchise released Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Salazar’s Revenge in 2017 ultimately a problem child became. The budget exploded, revenues fell. Pirates of the Caribbean as a pop culture event? none. A painfully slow shipwreck. Insignificance.
Pirates of the Caribbean must finally break free from Johnny Depp
Two years ago, it seemed Disney had found a way out of the ditch in which the increasingly Johnny Depp-centric series had fallen. Away from the familiar figures around Jack Sparrow, a all new pirates of the caribbean movie with DC star Margot Robbie. It’s now clear, however, that Disney has completely missed — in fact, never even tackled — the franchise’s greatest opportunity.
© Warner Bros.
Margot Robbie in Legend of Tarzan
In a recent interview, Robbie revealed that the studio wasn’t interested in pursuing her idea. Disney can thus one of the currently most exciting Hollywood stars go through the rags. And what now? Should Depp come back again? Aside from the private scandals, the Jack Sparrow actor hasn’t been the crowd puller he was a decade ago.
For Pirates of the Caribbean, Depp’s constant return was even fatal: While the fourth part was already very difficult to position Jack Sparrow as the sole main character without Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Will (Orlando Bloom), the problem became even clearer in the fifth part: self one elaborate backstory failed to add new facets to the pirate captain.
Margot Robbie has everything the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is missing
Having Johnny Depp on autopilot didn’t do the series any favors. As unmistakable as the Jack Sparrow character is, in Salazar’s Revenge there was only one of the outrageous ease with which Depp staggered through the picture in the first films tired, sluggish shadow left over. This listlessness on display doesn’t carry a $300 million blockbuster. A breath of fresh air in the form of Margot Robbie would have been urgently needed.
©Disney
Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Robbie belongs to a new generation of Hollywood stars who effortlessly blend in blockbusters and prestige projects move without getting stuck in stereotypes. Her most popular role is as Harley Quinn in the DC Universe – an idiosyncratic anti-heroine who, with each subsequent appearance, becomes more rebellious against the sexualized image that has been inflicted on her in the past.
Simultaneously, Robbie appears in the rampant Oscar drama Babylon and the idiosyncratic historical comedy Amsterdam. She moves just as naturally through Quentin Tarantino’s cinema worlds as through those of Martin Scorsese – and next year she will even conquer the big screen as Barbie. Few actors currently own one comparable self-confidence in the film industry.
Disney would rather prolong the state of crisis than give Margot Robbie a chance
This confidence is the key to Robbie’s success. After her breakthrough with The Wolf of Wall Street, she is to writer of her career become. She doesn’t let the dream factory dictate this to her. Robbie is picky when it comes to her projects – Disney should be lucky she even looked at the template-turned-blockbuster pirate franchise.
© Warner Bros.
Margot Robbie in Birds of Prey
Robbie’s eye for good projects is not only evident in her choice of role. She has also developed a strong voice as a producer. The production company LuckyChap Entertainment, which she co-founded in 2014, stands for young, curious Hollywood cinema. Her greatest success to date: The black humorous comedy thriller Promising Young Woman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture in 2021, among others.
Robbie does not yet have a billion hit in his pocket. But the energy with which she stirs up the film landscape is much more valuable than the slow fading memory of Johnny Depp’s heyday on the high seas. Now Disney is left empty-handed again. A new Pirates of the Caribbean film is far and wide not in sight. The state of crisis that has been going on for five years is being extended.
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What do you wish for the Pirates of the Caribbean future?