Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is officially on the way, and while very few details about the upcoming film are known, what has been revealed may mean that Disney is following the formula of a $2 billion smash hit. The story of Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is still up in the air, but based on what is known about the film, this possibility is increasingly likely.
2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was a critical failure, and there hasn’t been another sequel since. The controversies surrounding Johnny Depp have put the franchise in flux, with the future of the series being uncertain for several years. However, news about the franchise started being provided only a few years ago.
News of a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot broke in the early 2020s, with Margot Robbie being rumored to be involved. Eventually, franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that two Pirates of the Caribbean scripts were in the works, one with returning characters and one that acted as a soft reboot. Luckily, the path forward has finally been announced.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Could Go The Legacy Sequel Route
Thanks To The Massive Time Gap Between Movies
Based on what we now know about Pirates of the Caribbean 6, the film could finally go the legacy sequel route. In an interview, Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 would feature some returning actors, stating that “not all new actors” would comprise the cast. Thus, this means that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will probably take place in the continuity of the original films.
This implies that Pirates of the Caribbean 6‘s main cast will feature a mix of characters from the original movies as well as new characters. This makes the upcoming film sound like a legacy sequel, as plenty of films have revived franchises by introducing a new cast alongside beloved characters, with Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion being major examples.
It hasn’t yet been revealed which Pirates of the Caribbean characters will return in the sixth film, but there is a lot of speculation. Orlando Bloom has expressed interest in returning for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, with his eagerness meaning that Will Turner is the most likely candidate to return.
The Force Awakens Shows Why This Would Be Smart For Pirates 6
It Could Rejuvinate The Pirates Franchise
If Pirates of the Caribbean 6 wants to be a surefire success, it needs to follow in the footsteps of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While the Star Wars sequel trilogy is divisive, 2015’s The Force Awakens is still considered to be the best of the lot, with it mixing new and old characters and iconography in order to successfully revive the series.
This approach for The Force Awakens was a massive success, with it completely kickstarting the modern era of the Star Wars franchise. The film wound up making $2.07 billion, with it spawning two proper sequels that also made tons of money at the box office. This completely reignited interest in the franchise, which is what Pirates of the Caribbean needs.
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Pirates Of The Caribbean 6’s Best Path Forward Is Combining The 2 Movies Disney Has Spent Years Developing
Disney is developing two different iterations of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and they might complement one another perfectly.
Every sequel, spinoff, video game, and Star Wars Disney+ show has The Force Awakens to thank, as it proved that the franchise can successfully mix new elements and storylines with classic pieces of Star Wars iconography. Star Wars was in trouble after the prequel trilogy, but The Force Awakens made it a juggernaut once again, even if not every project is universally beloved.
Pirates of the Caribbean 6 could easily benefit from this strategy. Doing a legacy sequel would mean that the film can use returning characters to draw audience members in while also having a new cast to carry the franchise forward. This is better than doing a full reboot, as the name alone may not be enough to guarantee box office success.
If the legacy sequel approach works, it could have the same impact that The Force Awakens did. Pirates of the Caribbean is a franchise that is ripe for spinoffs, sequels, TV shows, and more. If Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is a success, it could relaunch the expanded universe, bringing back the weight of the franchise once again.
Which Characters Would Need To Return For Pirates Of The Caribbean 6?
The Main Trio Has To Be There
The big question regarding Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has to do with which characters need to return. No returning cast has been officially announced yet, and while several are probably coming, everything is up to speculation as of the writing of this article.
The biggest name in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow. Depp’s return would be controversial, but he has expressed interest in being back. To general audiences, it would be odd to see Pirates of the Caribbean without Jack Sparrow, but Disney will have to weigh the pros and cons of the character’s return.
Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner is another must-have, especially after his absence in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides hurt the film so much. This character’s return seems to be the most likely, as Bloom has been vocal about his desire to return in the upcoming sequel.
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Why Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Is Taking So Long
There are many reasons why Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is taking so long, such as Johnny Depp’s return and other spinoffs and reboots taking priority.
If Will Turner returns, then it would be odd to forget about Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann. While Knightley has expressed disinterest in returning for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, it is possible she could come back, as Disney would probably be eager to have her as the returning female lead.
Outside of this main trio, none of the other characters are essential. Captain Barbossa is dead, and while Mr. Gibbs is a major character, his presence isn’t likely to single-handedly sell tickets to Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Other supporting cast members would be fun to have, but they aren’t as significant as Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann.
After So Many Years, Pirates 6 Could Now Be A Bigger Hit
Now That The Franchise Is Less Oversaturated
When Dead Men Tell No Tales was released, Pirates of the Caribbean movies were a bit oversaturated. By the time Pirates of the Caribbean 6 releases, it will probably have been a decade. This, combined with the legacy sequel marketing, could help the film’s box office, turning it into a hit.
Having all of the aforementioned characters return could be seen as an event, as the sequel has been in a state of flux for so long. Pirates of the Caribbean 6 could be an event, turning the franchise into a box office Titan once again.
