"Hello there." "Do you want to build a snowman?"..."Yes, but I can't." Sorry, I mixed quite a few Disney franchises here and there. It's been a while, and quite a busy world on my end, online, offline, what have you. Anywho, I figured I'd make another blog with several PotC News: some new, some old, maybe some new to you. But I suppose we'll have to see below...
"Cursed Sails" at Fortnite[]
As I detailed in a more recent blog post, there was a collaboration with Fortnite through the "Cursed Sails" event. While the blog covered mostly leaks and past online rumors, I am happy to say that the content covered in the blog turned out to be pretty accurate...but then, I am not as familiar with Fortnite. As such, I'm afraid very little was done on my part outside of some additions and cleanup here and there, which is ironic as the Cursed Sails pass was first released on July 19th (my birthday), but oh well. I also partly blame Deadpool & Wolverine, Batman: Caped Crusader, and maybe other online/offline activities. At any rate, I hope any and all players of Fortnite who also happen to visit here had a rollickin', frolickin', brawlickin' time playing it.
Terry Rossio on sixth Pirates film[]
Now something more official, yet not so official, screenwriter/producer Terry Rossio speaks about the next Pirates of the Caribbean film, which is supposedly a "reboot" (I think I made my thoughts plentiful clear here) according to producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Oddly enough, I don't know how I missed this bit of news almost two months later, but better late than never, says I. Speaking on camera in this exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Rossio expressed his opinion regarding the next film, from the best cast, to Johnny Depp, and more. Presuming the video interview doesn't work (which you can view here from original article), I'll also provide a transcript here:
- "Clearly the best pirate film, in my mind, my controversial opinion, would be to bring back everybody. I would bring back Johnny. I would bring back Gore Verbinski. I would bring back Geoffrey Rush. I would bring back Orlando [Bloom], [Kevin] McNnally, Keira [Knightley]... Like, that's the best pirate film. Why not? We had a blast doing it the first time. Let's do it again. That's what I would do if it were me, why not? And that's what the fans want. Johnny is beloved. I wouldn't even hesitate on Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp isn't the issue. The issue is: is there a story worthy? Is the script good? Can it be directed well? Can the finances of it be worked out? Those are the issues. The issue has nothing to do with Johnny. There's a situation that goes on. You know? The fourth Indiana Jones movie, for example, was like this. Everybody wanted it, but it took what, 15-16 years for it to come about. There are a lot of forces that come into play in terms of... I mean they're boring, but schedule, availability, finances, creative control, the disposition of the studio... The planets have to align on any movie. It's a miracle that anything ever gets done.
Before anyone points out, yes, there are five Indiana Jones movies, and that could have been mentioned. In fairness, Mr. Rossio had used this as an example of how long it took for another film, notably having used it as an example after the original Pirates trilogy ended with the third film At World's End in 2007 and before the fourth film On Stranger Tides was released in 2011. Probably not worth pointing out, but far be it from me to deny one a film history lesson.
But wait, there's more! The article provides some more insight that sadly wasn't caught on tape...unless of course I missed it somewhere. I'll start with the obvious, at least according to DailyMail, when asked about how far Disney has gotten in their plans, Rossio pleaded ignorance: "Oh my gosh, I don't have any inside information. I'm sorry, I can't say." Sad, but true, given that recent P6/"reboot" news was that Jeff Nathanson was working on a script, possibly after Craig Mazin and Ted Elliott, the latter working on the potential National Treasure 3. A mixed bag, to say the least.
Luckily, we now have Rossio's take on the proposed Pirates film with Margot Robbie, which Bruckheimer apparently really wants to happen. Rossio's words, according to DailyMail:
- "There's a talent level. There's a reason they call them stars. She is a star because she has ascended up into the heavens in terms of Hollywood royalty. So whatever she does, it's going to be amazing because that level of talent is going to always come out. So to get her in a pirate movie, it would absolutely be great. There's no question of it."
DailyMail also claims that Rossio wants to see spin-offs in the Pirates universe using the original movie's female characters, similar to what Disney did with the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- "Again, it's just my opinion, but I wouldn't call it a female version of Pirates. I would call it an expansion and an exploration of the Pirate's universe. You can't go up and try to replace what's been done. That would be absolutely great. There could be a Hector Barbossa, Geoffrey Rush movie. I don't know why you wouldn't. You have to be fiscally responsible. Maybe the budgets are a little bit smaller, but why not do an expansion of the universe back to where the budget was for the first one, and I'm sure it would be successful."
Honestly, to have spin-offs to expand the original universe isn't too much of a stretch. Hell, I've been saying it for years! Unfortunately, it may be that Tales of the Code: Wedlocked may be the closest we get to a spin-off film featuring characters and storylines from the original films. Unless of course we are open to recasting characters, or perhaps focusing on unfamiliar characters in the series. OR maybe, juuust maybe Disney/Bruckheimer can forget this reboot nonsense, presuming they are dumb enough to replace what's been done.
In a perfect world, I'd like Disney/Bruckheimer to bring back the original team. Or at least bring back the writers who wrote stories that allowed them to make more money than Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge. Do I even need to mention Mr. Rossio's recent successes with The Amazing Maurice and Godzilla vs. Kong? Think, Disney! Nah, why bother with that, Mickey?
The Wicked Wench...times three?[]
"At last the work of generations is complete. The great error is corrected..." Blast it, I'm mixing my franchises again! Okay, this may or may not be an error as of yet, but still. Anywho, I feel I should share this for those who visit POTC Wiki often...if you are new, by some chance reading all this, welcome aboard. Before I go further, I feel I should briefly redirect you to this forum page. Basically, there was a matter of concern rather late about if the Wicked Wench owned by Captain Morgan in the flashback scene in P5 was indeed the Wicked Wench that becomes the Black Pearl. Most of it being evidence based on material related to the film, which never confirmed or denied (let's focus on confirm!) that they are one and the same vessel.
With that in mind, and with no opposition to the idea, official confirmation or otherwise, I took it upon myself to separate the articles in question. Now for those who may take issue with this change, please bear in mind, if you are to look for someone to blame, look towards the creators of P5 (mainly directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, maybe even the aforementioned Jeff Nathanson) who were fairly heavily involved in the final version of the film's story, or look towards the apparent inconsistency (by Disney? Bruckheimer?) behind the scenes. Admittedly, it does pain me to do it, as it may be that I will be proven wrong by some later interview or if the powers that be decides to say that the ships are indeed one and the same vessel...but again, at this point, I have my doubts that Disney/Bruckheimer will even care about this one issue, let alone about 20 years of world-building. We will see if this change stands the test of time.
Putting this negativity out of the way, onto more positive news...
D23 News[]
No, not the D23 Expo announcements made on August 10 of various Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars releases...but some of them were pretty good. Rather, I am speaking of the announcement on August 11 of the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge, a tavern previously announced last year at Destination D23, coming soon to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. As detailed with concept art in the Disney Parks Blog:
- Set course for the Magic Kingdom! First announced at Destination D23 last year, this rambunctious watering hole will offer a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, big and small, and everyone in between. Here, bandits and buccaneers-to-be from every corner of the seven seas are welcome to join together and raise a toast to the pirate life! In the newly released artwork, X marks the spot for a sea-worthy selection of grogs and grub inside this tavern location coming to Magic Kingdom Park.
- Original source
While details are still scarce, it has been announced that the tavern will be coming sometime in 2025.
Disney Speedstorm[]
After providing details of a Pirates-themed racetrack for Disney Speedstorm on a post this past July on Disney Parks Blog, which has since been removed, the following video was posted recently on social media...
- Get ready to race for the horizon! 🧭
- The next season of #DisneySpeedstorm, inspired by Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, starts on August 13!
With more to follow. 'Nuff said.
And that's all folks! So tell me. What are your thoughts on the latest? Please leave a comment below!