THE LAST OF US Showrunner Reveals Disney Is Moving Forward With His "Weird" PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Reboot

THE LAST OF US Showrunner Reveals Disney Is Moving Forward With His "Weird" PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Reboot

The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has confirmed he pitched a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot to Disney that, despite being "too weird," is now thought to be moving forward at the studio. Check it out!

By JoshWilding - Sep 05, 2023 09:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Los Angeles Times (via SFFGazette.com)

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has so far earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide, making it the 15th-highest-grossing film series of all time. Even more impressive is the fact it was the first movie franchise to produce two or more releases that grossed over $1 billion, beating the likes of the MCU and Transformers to the punch. 

In recent years, we've seen the property come to an unexpected standstill, with Johnny Depp's messy - and very public - divorce from Amber Heard all but guaranteeing we won't see Captain Jack Sparrow again. 

Still, talks of a reboot have persisted, including a planned female-led effort starring Margot Robbie which since appears to have been put on hold. Today, though, we have details on another Pirates of the Caribbean movie that had started taking shape at Disney prior to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin tells the Los Angeles Times (via SFFGazette.com) that he pitched an idea for the sixth instalment before the pandemic, with Disney choosing to start actively developing it. However, just as it was beginning to take shape, it seems the strikes stuck another spoke in the wheel. 

"We pitched it and thought there’s no way they’re buying it, it’s too weird," Mazin recalls. "And they did! And then he wrote a fantastic script and the strike happened and everyone’s waiting around."

We're guessing his work on The Last of Us also delayed production but until studios make a fair deal with writers and actors, this project will remain stuck in limbo. 

The original series followed the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), with Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), and Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin McNally). 

The franchise kicked off in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a movie that grossed $654 million worldwide. After the first instalment's success, Disney forged ahead with two sequels, including 2006's Dead Man's Chest and At World's End in 2007. 

In 2011, we got On Stranger Tides, though Dead Men Tell No Tales ended things on something of a bum note in 2017. 

We've been waiting a long time for a follow-up, and with two reboots now seemingly in the works, it will be interesting to see which of them manages to cross the finish line first. Will Disney consider bringing Depp back into the fold? We wouldn't bank on it but you never know. 

As always, we'll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more. 

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 9/5/2023, 9:05 AM
Bring back Depp and let him pass the torch. You'll make a billion dollars and we can all die happy
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 9/5/2023, 9:11 AM
@bobevanz - During the trial Johnny said he would never work for Disney again.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/5/2023, 9:45 AM
@WarMonkey - he's recently said that he's willing to work with them again

https://people.com/johnny-depp-open-to-working-with-disney-after-betrayal-exclusive-rollout-7556907
CoHost
CoHost - 9/5/2023, 9:49 AM
@WarMonkey - How else will he pay for his expensive wine?
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 9/5/2023, 10:52 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - That's nothing though, it's just an unknown person saying maybe he will.I t's just gossip.

"Anything is possible,” the Depp insider says. “If it’s the right project, he’ll do it.”

Unless he says something I'll continue going by what he has said already, he seemed pretty adamant back then about it.

Sidenote: In my notification tab on this site for your message it read "WhatifRickJames Contacted You". I was confused for a split-second lol
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/5/2023, 2:18 PM
@WarMonkey - can you blame him if it’s true
RolandD
RolandD - 9/5/2023, 4:13 PM
@WarMonkey - Did he say it under oath? 😉
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 9/5/2023, 5:13 PM
@RolandD - I can't recall but I feel like he did. I think it was presented in court as evidence lol
RolandD
RolandD - 9/5/2023, 6:44 PM
@WarMonkey - And I am just having a little fun, especially since he (and Heard) spent so much time on the stand in the last few years.
OptimusCrime
OptimusCrime - 9/5/2023, 9:06 AM
Disney really losing it
Origame
Origame - 9/5/2023, 10:57 AM
@OptimusCrime - I mean, we don't know anything about it other than the guy pitching it thought they wouldn't accept it.

Not that I disagree mind you.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/5/2023, 9:06 AM
You’ve got to bring Depp back as Jack and then retire the character.

They’ve still got animatronicJack in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World so he ain’t that cancelled.
santoanderson
santoanderson - 9/5/2023, 9:07 AM
I only watch those movies for Depp’s character. If they go full reboot, they’re going to have a really hard time replacing him.

They’re either going to give us a generic, Hugh Jackman-esque action hero (that was the original plan back in 2003), cast another popular method character actor to do their own oddball Jack Sparrow-type character (better not be Jared Leto), or Disney just caves and brings back Johnny Depp and hopes most people will have forgotten the whole Amber Heard thing by then.
RolandD
RolandD - 9/5/2023, 4:16 PM
@santoanderson - The internet never forgets.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 9/5/2023, 9:15 AM
Weird reboot? Why not just make it a weird continuation. Seeing how Jack Sparrow is the only real reoccurring character in the franchise I’d say just keep him involved as people love his character.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 9/5/2023, 9:15 AM
Depp was the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.
DalekCraigWasson
DalekCraigWasson - 9/5/2023, 9:20 AM
Let it die. Don't do what the comments say and include Depp. Nuff said.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 9/5/2023, 9:27 AM
@DalekCraigWasson - Why?
ReverseFlasher
ReverseFlasher - 9/5/2023, 9:24 AM
So then who is the “he” that Mazin says actually wrote it?
ReverseFlasher
ReverseFlasher - 9/5/2023, 9:25 AM
*from the quote by Mazin in the article.
RebelCommander
RebelCommander - 9/5/2023, 9:25 AM
This is literally the reason why very few people actually support the Hollywood strikes. Literally come up with an original idea
RolandD
RolandD - 9/5/2023, 4:31 PM
@RebelCommander - Think about it. That’s on the studios more than the writers. The studios want something that will make bank and they are the ones who decide what will get, not the writers. You’re complaint is misdirected.
phoenixvici
phoenixvici - 9/5/2023, 9:26 AM


Depp one more time or no sale.

WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/5/2023, 9:37 AM
How about this, a Pirates multiverse.

Boom, cut the check
RebelCommander
RebelCommander - 9/5/2023, 10:10 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - How about variants of Jack Sparrow?
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 9/5/2023, 9:43 AM
I very much enjoyed the first 3 movies... the last 2 were pretty awful. If Depp isn't involved, i want nothing to do with this series
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/5/2023, 11:41 AM
Without Depp's charisma I'm not sure it will have the same appeal. There's a reason Jack Sparrow is the face of the franchise.
SATW42
SATW42 - 9/5/2023, 11:51 AM
From the day he was born, he yearned for adventure
Oh, Captain Jack, giving them what-for
He's the pauper of the surf, the jester of Tortuga
But in Davy Jones' locker, what lies in store?
dracula
dracula - 9/5/2023, 11:52 AM
I lost interest in this series after the 4th film

But this will crash and butn without Depp
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 9/5/2023, 12:15 PM
I would rather see them just let the franchise stay dead, but if they must continue, I rather see something with completely new cast of characters in the same universe than some kind of passing the torch legacy sequel. Jack Sparrow's shtick is beyond played out and Depp, however you choose to feel about him as a person, was on serious autopilot the last two movies.
Asterisk
Asterisk - 9/5/2023, 12:18 PM
Hey Disney, it should be a prequel about the Brethren Court

ZomZom
ZomZom - 9/5/2023, 12:38 PM
Without Depp's charm and wit as Jack, all they've got is a series of pretty locations. I hope he tells them to shove it up their collective hoop.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/5/2023, 12:42 PM


The reboot has to have Michael Jordan as Jack Sparrow. Or Denzel. whatever.

IronDean2099
IronDean2099 - 9/5/2023, 1:16 PM
I'm not a fan of this franchise but there's so much they could do with it that doesn't involve Johnny Depp. Any number of actors could do any number of takes on characters for a piratey adventure.

Some suggestions;

Karen Gillen
David Harbour
Logan Marshall Green
Matt Smith
Brian Tyree Henry
John Cena
Caleb Landry Jones

Off the top of my head.

Literally just write a solid script and you could get anyone good or interesting to put a new spin on it.

OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 9/5/2023, 3:12 PM
Only the first three matter anyway. It's pointless to make more, however wonderful those first three are.
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 9/5/2023, 4:17 PM
It's modern day Disney.

The new Sparrow will be a butt pirate.
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 9/5/2023, 8:14 PM
@DarthAlgar - I can already hear the "I live for the booty !" one liner in my head
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 9/7/2023, 12:11 AM
Good [frick] luck with this. Johnny Depp performance was remarkable as Jack Sparrow. Don't see many people being interested without him...
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