Pirates of the Caribbean Reboot Loses Deadpool Writers

Deadline.com reports that Disney’s planned reboot for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has hit a roadblock as writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the screenwriters for the Deadpool films, have departed from the film.

Disney was planning a reboot for the franchise that would not include Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Depp starred as the pirate in the past five cinematic installments for the franchise. Previously, the hiring by Wernick and Reese was hailed by Disney film production head Sean Bailey as a move that would give the franchise a “kick in the pants” and “make Pirates punk rock again.” However, the writers have now quietly exited the project.

Per the report, some sources are saying there is already a search for new writers. Others are suggesting that this move could send a franchise reboot onto the development shelf “for good.” That being said, the report does note that there were “spitball discussions” about possibly revamping the property as a new TV series. The main issue there would be budgetary and logistical issues. Starz did run the Black Sails series for four seasons, so it can be done successfully.

The last installment of the Pirates of Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales, made $794 million worldwide. However, the franchise’s domestic results have been seriously waning. The last film only made $172 million at the US box office, compared to its peak with the second installment, Dead Man’s Chest, which made $423 million domestic and $1.06 billion worldwide.

Together the Pirates films have brought in $4.5 billion worldwide at the box office. The films have also brought in $2.5 billion in global merchandise sales.