13 votes

Margot Robbie says her female-led ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie is dead at Disney: ‘I guess they don’t want to do it’

19 comments

  1. [2]
    Bullmaestro
    Link
    I'm gonna guess that the project was canned as soon as Johnny Depp won in court. Knowing Disney, they're probably keen to bring Depp back but they'll have to offer him a boatload of money to...

    I'm gonna guess that the project was canned as soon as Johnny Depp won in court. Knowing Disney, they're probably keen to bring Depp back but they'll have to offer him a boatload of money to convince him to reprise the role.

    6 votes
    1. cloud_loud
      Link Parent
      And more than 300 alpacas

      And more than 300 alpacas

      3 votes
  2. [6]
    FishFingus
    Link
    I think we're over that series now, it's so long past being good. They've made, what, five of them?

    I think we're over that series now, it's so long past being good. They've made, what, five of them?

    5 votes
    1. [5]
      cloud_loud
      Link Parent
      Yup. The first Pirates was a decent size hit and got a lot of awards attention. Then the second Pirates made a billion dollars. Then the third Pirates made 900 million dollars. Then the fourth...

      Yup.

      The first Pirates was a decent size hit and got a lot of awards attention.

      Then the second Pirates made a billion dollars.

      Then the third Pirates made 900 million dollars.

      Then the fourth Pirates (still the most expensive movie ever made) made a billion dollars again.

      Then the fifth one made less than 800 million dollars and that was effectively the end of the series.

      I still really like those first three movies. Visually, they are spectacular.

      8 votes
      1. [2]
        drannex
        Link Parent
        For a twenty year old movie, the visuals truly stand up better than any other that I can think of, even when compared to modern films with an equal (or exceeding) monetary budget with better...

        Visually, they are spectacular.

        For a twenty year old movie, the visuals truly stand up better than any other that I can think of, even when compared to modern films with an equal (or exceeding) monetary budget with better tooling and experience.

        I said this around then, and I'll say it again, Dead Man's Chest had far better CGI work than Avatar did three years later.

        2 votes
        1. EditingAndLayout
          Link Parent
          The difference for me is that Avatar was made to be viewed in 3D. And Avatar in 3D is still the best experience I've ever had in a movie theater, even though I'd rate the movie a 6/10 without the 3D.

          Dead Man's Chest had far better CGI work than Avatar did three years later.

          The difference for me is that Avatar was made to be viewed in 3D. And Avatar in 3D is still the best experience I've ever had in a movie theater, even though I'd rate the movie a 6/10 without the 3D.

          1 vote
      2. [2]
        FishFingus
        Link Parent
        I've always got time for a bit of interesting and well-choreographed physical comedy and fighting. Jackie Chan may be old, but I still look forward to his movies for that reason.

        I've always got time for a bit of interesting and well-choreographed physical comedy and fighting. Jackie Chan may be old, but I still look forward to his movies for that reason.

        2 votes
        1. rosco
          Link Parent
          I first read this as adding Jackie Chan to the franchise and got excited. I could do with a Shanghai Noon style Pirates of the Caribbean with Jackie Chan/Johnny Depp.

          I first read this as adding Jackie Chan to the franchise and got excited. I could do with a Shanghai Noon style Pirates of the Caribbean with Jackie Chan/Johnny Depp.

          2 votes
  3. [9]
    balooga
    Link
    I've only seen the first movie and thought it was just okay. It's funny though, I like piratey fiction and even the classic Disney ride the series was inspired by. I was turned off by the...

    I've only seen the first movie and thought it was just okay. It's funny though, I like piratey fiction and even the classic Disney ride the series was inspired by. I was turned off by the cartoonish eye-lined Jack Sparrow character and the heavy emphasis on spooky supernatural stuff. I should probably watch the rest of the series before dismissing it, but the trailers looked like the rest of them would be more of the same.

    If anybody can recommend some more traditional (but recent) pirate films, more in line with Treasure Island or Horatio Hornblower, I'd be obliged.

    3 votes
    1. whbboyd
      Link Parent
      If you were turned off of Curse of the Black Pearl by Jack Sparrow's shenanigans and the focus on the supernatural, you are really not going to like the rest of the series. It basically leans hard...

      If you were turned off of Curse of the Black Pearl by Jack Sparrow's shenanigans and the focus on the supernatural, you are really not going to like the rest of the series. It basically leans hard into those two aspects.

      I think it achieved greater commercial success than more grounded nautical films like Master and Commander because it's simply more accessible. You don't have to know or care at all about sailing or the sociopolitical environment during the golden age of piracy to enjoy them; but that definitely does mean that if you do know or care at all about those things, the movies will seem at best a bit flat.

      9 votes
    2. [3]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      I don't think you will like the remaining Pirates films, they only lean further into the supernatural aspects (and are worse for it). Have you seen the show Black Sails? It's a prequel to Robert...

      I don't think you will like the remaining Pirates films, they only lean further into the supernatural aspects (and are worse for it).

      Have you seen the show Black Sails? It's a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and after a middling first season it turns into something really good, and likely much more up your alley.

      There's also Our Flag Means Death, which you might love or hate. It is explicitly a comedy, based loosely on real pirates. It leans heavily into silly antics, but there are no supernatural elements. Unless you find something supernatural about the idea of socially conscious 18th century pirates.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        balooga
        Link Parent
        Never heard of it! Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out. moocow1452 brought that one to my attention, I should have some time next week to dive into it. Sounds like a fun time! But, lol, yes that...

        Have you seen the show Black Sails? It's a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and after a middling first season it turns into something really good, and likely much more up your alley.

        Never heard of it! Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

        There's also Our Flag Means Death, which you might love or hate. It is explicitly a comedy, based loosely on real pirates. It leans heavily into silly antics, but there are no supernatural elements. Unless you find something supernatural about the idea of socially conscious 18th century pirates.

        moocow1452 brought that one to my attention, I should have some time next week to dive into it. Sounds like a fun time! But, lol, yes that kind of anachronism mystical magical fantasy does sound borderline far-fetched.

        1 vote
        1. babypuncher
          Link Parent
          It's absolutely far-fetched, but I think it works in this particular show. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that what seems like silly 21st century social commentary ends up coming...

          It's absolutely far-fetched, but I think it works in this particular show. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that what seems like silly 21st century social commentary ends up coming around full circle when the real story of the season is finally revealed.

          3 votes
    3. [2]
      rosco
      Link Parent
      How recent are we talking? Have you seen Master and Commander?

      How recent are we talking? Have you seen Master and Commander?

      2 votes
      1. balooga
        Link Parent
        I'm glad that I'm not the only one on here old enough to think that 2003 was "recent!" Yes I've seen that one and it was great. I'd very much like to see more movies like that coming out these days.

        I'm glad that I'm not the only one on here old enough to think that 2003 was "recent!" Yes I've seen that one and it was great. I'd very much like to see more movies like that coming out these days.

        1 vote
    4. [2]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      Depending on your definition of recent, I really liked Treasure Planet, an animated film that started with Treasure Island and said, "If we wanted to make this a sci-fi, what would we need to...

      Depending on your definition of recent, I really liked Treasure Planet, an animated film that started with Treasure Island and said, "If we wanted to make this a sci-fi, what would we need to change?" Then they made that film.

      Also relevant is Our Flag is Death, probably the most recent hit around pirates. It's not necessarily period accurate drama, but it uses piracy as an allegory for modern day issues and it is showrun by Taika Waititi, so you should know what you're getting into if you recognize that name.

      2 votes
      1. balooga
        Link Parent
        I've heard good things about Treasure Planet but never seen it. I see it's on Disney+, I'll add that one to my watchlist and give it a try. Never heard of Our Flag is Death, thanks for the...

        I've heard good things about Treasure Planet but never seen it. I see it's on Disney+, I'll add that one to my watchlist and give it a try. Never heard of Our Flag is Death, thanks for the recommendation there. I generally like Waititi's work.

  4. [2]
    Douglas
    Link
    Hm, I wonder why? Perhaps it's too much of a box office-gamble (i.e. it wouldn't net them enough profit)? I admit I have not watched Ocean's Eight yet, but I haven't hated any of the other...

    Hm, I wonder why? Perhaps it's too much of a box office-gamble (i.e. it wouldn't net them enough profit)?

    I admit I have not watched Ocean's Eight yet, but I haven't hated any of the other women-lead chapters of men-dominated franchises like Ghostbusters or Birds of Prey. They didn't exactly feel fresh and instead felt very, um, churned out? But I'm willing to keep giving them shots.

    I heard Charlie's Angels was terrible, but I'm always a skeptic when going off average IMDb ratings since those movies get hella bombed by dudes.

    2 votes
    1. cloud_loud
      Link Parent
      Charlie’s Angels is kind of just mediocre. Similar to Ghostbusters. The best of these is Ocean’s 8, which is about as good as the other Ocean’s films.

      Charlie’s Angels is kind of just mediocre. Similar to Ghostbusters. The best of these is Ocean’s 8, which is about as good as the other Ocean’s films.

      3 votes