Key Takeaways:
- Johnny Depp, a highly influential actor, has left a lasting impact on multiple generations of fans and fellow actors.
- The exclusion of Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean reboot is emblematic of Hollywood’s ongoing negative trend.
- Interestingly, Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean shares a significant similarity with Pedro Pascal’s The Last of Us.
Johnny Depp, undeniably one of today’s biggest actors, rose to fame through iconic roles in films like Edward Scissorhands, Donnie Brasco, and notably, Pirates of the Caribbean.
However, the recent Pirates of the Caribbean report, excluding Depp, highlights a troubling trend in Hollywood.
Depp’s portrayal of the beloved and eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow propelled him to unprecedented success, particularly notable as pirate movies hadn’t garnered widespread acclaim before his tenure.
New Pirates of the Caribbean Reboot Without Johnny Depp Shows Hollywood’s Continuing Problematic Trend
Nearly seven years have passed since the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie hit theaters, yet Disney continues to navigate the franchise’s future.
While several ideas have been proposed, including a Margot Robbie-led film and reintroducing Johnny Depp‘s Jack Sparrow, it appears the franchise is leaning towards a complete reboot, embracing fresh concepts and characters.
The next ‘PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN’ movie is officially confirmed to be a reboot.
(Via: https://t.co/PWw73flMHN) pic.twitter.com/9LlC2q2toi
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) March 26, 2024
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com regarding his latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer discussed the future of his iconic franchises, including Top Gun and Pirates of the Caribbean.
When asked which might return to the big screen first, Bruckheimer hinted at Pirates undergoing a reset.
“It’s hard to tell. You don’t know, you really don’t know,” Bruckheimer began. “You don’t know how they come together. You just don’t know. Because with Top Gun you have an actor who is iconic and brilliant.
He added: “And how many movies he does before he does Top Gun, I can’t tell you. But we’re gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.”
The next ‘PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN’ movie is officially confirmed to be a reboot.
(Via: https://t.co/PWw73flMHN) pic.twitter.com/9LlC2q2toi
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) March 26, 2024
As expected, numerous fans expressed their discontent on Twitter, voicing disappointment over the decision to reboot Pirates of the Caribbean rather than pursue a proper sequel, particularly without Johnny Depp.
The Pirates of the Caribbean reboot’s decision to exclude Johnny Depp is part of a trend where old intellectual properties are simply recycled for reboots.
This overlooks the original’s legacy and nostalgia, focusing solely on attracting a new audience while disregarding longtime fans. This approach undermines the value of creating fresh, original stories.
Pirates of the Caribbean Shares One Distinctive Similarity with The Last of Us
The IMDB trivia page for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl mentions that the movie broke the long-standing ‘Pirate movie curse’ that had been haunting the genre since the mid-1970s.
Previous pirate films like Swashbuckler (1976), The Pirate Movie (1982), Nate and Hayes (1983), Yellowbeard (1983), and Pirates (1986) had all struggled.
Even later attempts with Waterworld (1995) and Cutthroat Island (1995) failed. Despite low initial expectations, Pirates of the Caribbean defied the odds and became a global success both artistically and commercially.
Similarly, Pedro Pascal‘s The Last of Us broke the curse of video game-to-live-action adaptations. Before the show, most adaptations had been box-office failures.
Both Pirates of the Caribbean and The Last of Us have thus broken curses within their respective genres.
