The highly anticipated sequel Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in current development at Disney, with writers trying to come up with a story that’s strong enough to revive the beloved franchise. The film’s casting, which is still unconfirmed, is arguably the most important detail that could see the seafaring saga set sail or sink. Orlando Bloom, best known for giving life to Will Turner in the series, has addressed a possible reunion in the past, but per his latest very honest statement, it’s safe to assume that the classic cast is still not locked in.
Bloom recently talked to Deadline during a red carpet event, and he shared his stance on a possible reunion. The actor talks about the legacy of the Pirates series, and while he sounds proud of them, he honestly mentions that he has no idea of where it stands at the moment:
“I’m so proud of being a part of those movies. Somebody was talking about, you know, Pirates having another whirl round, and I was like, of course, those movies were remarkable, and my kids love them, and my kids’ kids love them and friends love them [Bloom is referring to his kids’ friends].
“It’s sort of like, ‘What would you do?’ I do think that people are really responding to nostalgia in a way at the moment. There’s something about stepping into this new world of artificial intelligence and superintelligence, where we’re kind of harking back to nostalgic times and movies that had that. Maybe there’s a world where we get the band back together.
“But it’s sort of funny. Every time I mention it, it’s like, ‘He wants to do it,’ and I’m like, ‘I have no idea what’s happening.’ But I do think I’m proud of them.”
Bloom has never denied wanting to come back to the world of the fearless pirates and the infamous Jack Sparrow. Earlier this year, he said, “I can’t say anything at the moment, because I really don’t know,” when referring to the sixth entry – one of two movies seemingly being considered by Disney. To Deadline, he says that the only way he sees himself embodying Will Turner again is if “it’s a good story.”
Can ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’ Work Without the Original Cast?
We won’t deny what’s obvious about the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and what the loyal fanbase has expressed for years. The main reason why the original adventure action series worked was because of its cast. We’re mainly referring to Johnny Depp’s rendition of the iconic pirate, a performance that actually earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
But as important as Sparrow was (he was the only character to be fully featured in all the previous films), there are others who are equally important to the series. Bloom’s Will Turner, Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush’s Hector Barbossa, among others, have been the backbone of the franchise. A sixth film without most of the original cast could bring people to theaters by name alone, but with the original cast returning, it would also have the strong nostaligic pull that a different cast may not be able to match.