Jenna Ortega Boycotts Disney: Shuns Pirates of the Caribbean 6’s Lead Female Cast

When it comes to Pirates of the Caribbean 6, Wednesday and Beetlejuice star Jenna Ortega does not want to see Margot Robbie, or any other female take the role of Jack Sparrow.

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has evolved into a cultural sensation, enchanting global audiences with its thrilling adventures and unforgettable characters. What began as a cherished theme park attraction has transformed into one of Disney’s most lucrative and beloved film series.

At the core of the franchise is Captain Jack Sparrow, the quirky and magnetic anti-hero masterfully portrayed by Johnny Depp. His performance, a perfect mix of wit, charm, and cunning, has become legendary, inspiring endless imitations and earning widespread fan admiration. Alongside Depp, the ensemble cast features Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Geoffrey Rush as the formidable Captain Barbossa.

The inaugural film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, debuted in 2003 to both critical acclaim and commercial success. Its unique blend of action, adventure, comedy, and fantasy captivated audiences across generations. This success paved the way for four sequels: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). In the end, Disney profited $4.5 billion at the box office.

Sadly, and while it might be tough to believe, Disney gave Depp the boot, even after he led the franchise to such immense success. During the Amber Heard trial, where his ex-wife accused Depp of abuse, Disney decided to remove the actor from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise in order to distance themselves from the drama.

The only issue with that is that they made the decision before a verdict was made.

In the end, as we know now, Johnny Depp was not guilty, so Disney removed one of their most profitable actors for nothing. Depp had then promised that he would never return as Jack Sparrow for Disney, not even for $300 million after their betrayal.

Excluding Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean 6 could be a financial misstep for Disney, as many fans closely associate the franchise with Depp’s iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. In this scenario, it seems Disney needs Depp more than he needs them for the success of the Pirates franchise.

As for the future of Pirates of the Caribbean 6, there’s been a lot of speculation about the direction of the film, though little has been confirmed. What we do know is that The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin has penned a script.

“We pitched it and thought there’s no way they’re buying it—it’s too weird. And they did!” Mazin shared with the LA Times.

Mazin mentioned that he had been working on the script with Ted Elliott, one of the original writers of the series, prior to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. However, due to the strikes, development on the reboot has been paused. “[Elliott] wrote a fantastic script, and then the strike happened, and now everyone’s waiting around,” Mazin added.

There were earlier rumors that the script might feature a female lead, with Margot Robbie initially considered for the role. Now, Ayo Edebiri’s name has emerged as a possible candidate in the Pirates of the Caribbean 6 reboot, essentially replacing Johnny Depp with a female.

While the idea of rebooting Pirates of the Caribbean with a female lead may be exciting to some, it is not for Jenna Ortega.

Jenna Ortega is advocating for more original female-led franchises rather than female-led spinoffs. In a recent video interview with MTV during the promotional tour for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega was asked if she would consider taking on the role of a gender-flipped Edith Scissorhands in a potential revival of Edward Scissorhands by director Tim Burton. However, Ortega expressed a preference for leading a franchise as an original character instead.

Per Variety, “I love that there’s a lot more female leads nowadays, I think that’s so special. But we should have our own,” Ortega said. “I don’t like it when it’s like a spinoff — I don’t want to see like ‘Jamie Bond.’ You know? I want to see another badass.”

Jenna Ortega says women deserve their own franchises and not just gender-flipped spinoffs: “I don’t want to see like Jamie Bond.”

“I love that there’s a lot more female leads nowadays, I think that’s so special, but we should have our own [franchises]. I don’t like it when it’s like a spinoff — I don’t want to see like ‘Jamie Bond.’ You know? I want to see another badass.”

Jenna Ortega says women deserve their own franchises and not just gender-flipped spinoffs: “I don’t want to see like Jamie Bond.”

“I love that there’s a lot more female leads nowadays, I think that’s so special, but we should have our own [franchises]. I don’t like it when it’s… pic.twitter.com/B3HiV9mM5K

— Variety (@Variety) September 3, 2024

Coming from Ortega and seeing the Hollywood path and resume she is forging for herself, we can see the young star is looking to lead by example.

Jenna is already a producer on Wednesday, and she plays the leading female role of Wednesday Addams. Not only was the show successful, but it did so well that it knocked Stranger Things off the leaderboard when it came to watching hours of the show, making it the most popular English show on the platform. Funny enough, Ortega has actually been trying to convince her Beetlejuice co-star Winona Ryder to join the Nevermore side! 

Most recently, we even saw Ortega collaborate with pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter in their female horror showdown in the music video for “Taste”.

At the moment, it is unclear in what direction Disney will take Pirates of the Caribbean 6, but if it’s female-driven, Ortega won’t be thrilled.

Funny enough, Ortega is somewhat connected to the Disney franchise. 

A viral fan-made trailer by KH Studios on YouTube has sparked speculation about a possible return of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. The trailer features Depp alongside Jenna Ortega, who plays his daughter, as they embark on a new adventure on the high seas.

Titled Pirates of the Caribbean 6: Beyond the Horizon, the trailer has garnered over 2 million views since its release. It also includes the return of familiar characters like Davy Jones, Elizabeth Swann, and Will Turner. The story follows Depp’s quest with his daughter, who inquires about an island and its hidden treasures. Elizabeth and Will are drawn into the adventure as the peaceful days come to an end.

You can see the trailer below:

While Ortega is certainly not involved in this false project, she was once again intertwined with Depp after the dating allegation came to fruition. 

Rumors circulated that Jenna Ortega and Johnny Depp were romantically involved after sightings of the two together. These rumors gained traction following reports that Depp would appear alongside Ortega in the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

However, Ortega swiftly denied these claims on her Instagram, stating that she had never met or worked with Depp. She emphasized the falsity of the rumors and urged people to stop spreading misinformation: “This is so ridiculous I can’t even laugh. I have never met or worked with Johnny Depp in my life. Please stop spreading lies and leave us alone.”

Johnny Depp’s representatives also issued a statement categorically denying any personal or professional relationship between Depp and Ortega. They condemned the baseless and malicious rumors aimed at harming Depp’s reputation, ” Mr. Depp has no personal or professional relationship with Ms. Ortega whatsoever. He has never met her or spoken to her. He is not involved in any project with her, nor does he intend to be. He is appalled by these baseless and malicious rumors that are intended to harm his reputation and career.”

Do you agree with Jenna Ortega?