Margot Robbie potentially starring in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 would actually be far better for the franchise than bringing back Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise - adapted from the Disney theme park ride of the same name - began in 2003 with The Curse of the Black Pearl, a film that introduced audiences to Johnny Depp's charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow, a character who has since become something of a cinematic icon. Depp reprised the role over the film's four sequels, most recently in 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise began with a trilogy of films in which Johnny Depp co-starred with Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Geoffrey Rush. After this trilogy ended in 2007, Bloom and Knightley left the franchise, and 2011's On Stranger Tides featured Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane alongside Depp. Orlando Bloom then reprised his role in Dead Men Tell No Tales, which also featured Javier Bardem. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise's wealth of talented and celebrated actors are just one contributing factor to its success, although Depp's iconic turn as Sparrow has so far been the most reliable constant.
However, with Depp reportedly not considering a return to the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is eyeing Margot Robbie to lead the next installment. Robbie in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is an interesting prospect, as her previous roles prove that she commands a range and charisma comparable to Depp's. Margot Robbie is also recognized as a remarkably talented performer who would be capable of bringing the franchise forward considerably. This actually makes Margot Robbie's potential casting as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise's new lead much more exciting than Depp's hypothetical return.
Why Johnny Depp Isn't Returning For Pirates Of The Caribbean 6
The reasons that Johnny Depp will not be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are intrinsically linked to the well-publicized court battle between the actor and his ex-wife, Amber Heard. As part of Depp's defamation suit against Heard, the actor has stated his belief that the reason he was not asked to reprise the role of Captain Jack Sparrow was linked to the allegations of abuse leveled against him. As part of the case, Depp also explicitly stated that he does not intend to appear in any future Pirates of the Caribbean movies in the future.
In addition to Depp's own comments, producer Jerry Bruckheimer has also confirmed that Johnny Depp's time in the franchise appears to be over. When asked by The Sunday Times if Depp could return for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, Bruckheimer simply stated: "not at this point. The future is yet to be decided." Though Bruckheimer may not have ruled out the possibility of Depp ever returning to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, it seems clear that neither Depp nor Pirates of the Caribbean's producers have any intention of making the character a part of any installments in the foreseeable future.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Must Move On From Depp's Jack Sparrow
Though Johnny Depp's role in the franchise was pivotal in its initial success, Pirates of the Caribbean needs to move on from the character of Jack Sparrow. Perhaps the most obvious and least avoidable issue is the matter of Depp's age: he's already 58 years old, making his continued role in the action-heavy franchise less plausible with each passing year. If the franchise is to continue, it would sooner or later need to replace Depp's character, otherwise, it would likely face the same issues as the future of the Indiana Jones franchise, where the character becomes so important to the franchise that the impossible task of recasting the role becomes an inevitability.
Pirates of the Caribbean 6 provides the perfect opportunity to move on from Sparrow, however. With Depp having stated he's not interested in returning, it would seem as good a time as any, but the slipping quality of both On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales seems to suggest that the franchise has been on something of a downward spiral. Refreshing the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with a new lead could prove exactly the revitalization it needs, moving the franchise forward and beginning to explore new ideas and stories, particularly as Dead Men Tell No Tales works reasonably well as Jack Sparrow's ending.
Why Margot Robbie Is Perfect For A Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot
Reactions to the idea of Margot Robbie's potential Pirates of the Caribbean role have been distinctly positive, as it seems the actor would be a perfect fit for the franchise. This isn't simply because of her talent, but of the specific way in which she has employed it previously. Robbie's acting ability speaks for itself, but the finer details of her filmography make Pirates of the Caribbean an excellent fit. Not only is she no stranger to franchise roles (as she has played Harley Quinn in the DCEU), but she's also got specific experience in action-based historical adventures (as proved in The Legend of Tarzan).
Aside from the way that Margot Robbie's previous movies prove that she would fit into Pirates of the Caribbean, there's also something else she would bring to the franchise. Margot Robbie is currently one of the most well-respected and sought-after performers in Hollywood, meaning that she would lend an impressive amount of star power to her role in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Robbie's status as a box office draw would undoubtedly help Pirates 6 achieve independence from previous movies in the franchise while also cementing its chances of financial success, making Margot Robbie the perfect person to lead Pirates of the Caribbean from here on out.
Will Margot Robbie's Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Actually Happen?
Though updates on Pirates of the Caribbean 6 say that it is still in development, Margot Robbie's specific role hasn't yet been entirely confirmed. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that work on a script for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 starring Margot Robbie, but that there is also a second script, which does not. This implies that Robbie's involvement is far from a certainty, although the fact that she has specifically been named as the franchise's most likely successor is encouraging.
Ultimately, it would seem that Disney is incredibly keen to move forward with Pirates of the Caribbean 6 in order to keep the franchise alive. Though Margot Robbie may not have been confirmed as the franchise's new lead, her casting would prove the logical choice. Margot Robbie's screen credentials qualify her perfectly to fill the role of Pirates of the Caribbean 6's protagonist - and to potentially lead the franchise after Johnny Depp's exit.