Did Universal just add Pirates of the Caribbean to their theme park?
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of those attractions at Disney Park that feels like it is a must-ride and a staple for many guests to experience while on their vacations. Considering Walt Disney himself worked on the original ride in Disneyland, there has always been something magical for fans when they get to sail through the epic pirate cannonball battle scene or coast through the burning village.
Many Pirates of the Caribbean fans who believed that Disney was solely responsible for the $4.5 billion swashbuckling franchise might be surprised to learn that Universal, Disney’s competitor, played a much bigger role in the film’s development than they might have imagined.
“If you look backwards on the Studio Tour when pulling into the Earthquake attraction, you can see the bar set used as Tortuga in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006) 🏴☠️”
If you look backwards on the Studio Tour when pulling into the Earthquake attraction, you can see the bar set used as Tortuga in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006) 🏴☠️@UniStudios pic.twitter.com/1o03iLWedH
— Universal HIGH🌎 (@HighUniversal) August 20, 2024
What's Going On With Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has recently been mired in controversy, with fans boycotting any future developments due to Johnny Depp's departure.
Depp’s status in Hollywood, though recently questioned by many due to his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, is undeniably well-earned.
He gave a poignant performance as the misunderstood Edward Scissorhands (1990) in Tim Burton’s classic. Depp ventured into another fantastical world as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland (2010). He brought his eccentricity to life as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), another collaboration with Burton.
Depp’s portrayal of a struggling writer in Finding Neverland (2004) adds a heartwarming touch to the tale inspired by Peter Pan’s creator. And those films are just a small part of his impressive resume.
As many fans of the franchise know, Disney decided to remove Johnny Depp from all future Pirates of the Caribbean films, despite his leading role. Disney made this decision prematurely, aiming to distance themselves from Depp due to the abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Amber Heard, even before any verdict was reached.
In hindsight, if Disney had maintained their loyalty until the verdict was delivered, they might have retained their lead actor, a key fan base, and a future for the franchise, since Depp was not found guilty.
Rumors have circulated that Depp might return to the franchise, despite his previous statement that he wouldn’t come back for a sixth film, even for $300 million. At one point, a female-led version of the film was considered, with Barbie (2023) star Margot Robbie potentially taking on the role of a new “Jack Sparrow,” but that project has since been shelved.
Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film is in development, with a script already written. However, he mentioned it would be a full reboot, as Disney is not waiting for everyone’s schedules to align before starting production. It seems Disney plans to restart the franchise with an entirely new cast, meaning Pirates of the Caribbean 6 may not even be a “sixth” film but the beginning of a new legacy.
Disney is, however, expanding Pirates of the Caribbean in their parks without Jack Sparrow with their new lounge, which will have a backstory of fictional characters only.
Did you know that Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed at Universal?
