Disney has reportedly hired two writers to tackle the reboot of “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Former “Pirates of the Caribbean” writer Ted Elliott and “Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin will develop the story for the new film, which will be a reboot of the franchise that dominated box office in the early 2000s, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Elliott and Mazin were added to development “to propel fresh wind into ‘Pirates,’ one of the largest-hauling film franchises of all time, which introduced hard-luck and hard-drinking pirate Jack Sparrow into Disney fandom and pop culture,” THR reported.
Development for “Pirates of the Caribbean” kicked up in 2018 when Disney hired “Deadpool” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick for the project, as reported by the Deseret News. The two writers dropped out in 2019, though, leaving the project without any story or major development.
But now, with Mazin and Elliott, the new film is “in the early stages of development, with the duo tasked to find a direction and story.”
It’s unclear if Johnny Depp will return as Captain Jack Sparrow, who has been included in every “Pirates” film.
Why it matters: “Pirates of the Caribbean” grossed more than $4.5 billion in 14 years, according to the Deseret News. The new reboot would take the story in a new direction, which the franchise desperately needs. A quick glance at Rotten Tomatoes reviews shows the film franchise has been on a steady decline in terms of reviews.
But “POTC” can still earn at the box office. The last film, “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” grabbed $794 million at the worldwide box office. That is more than the first film — which got $654 million (not adjusted for inflation). Still, the franchise’s fourth film, “On Stranger Tides” grabbed more than $1 billion at the box office, as reported Box Office Mojo.