Keira Knightley Discusses Why She Won’t Return as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean

Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean may have to bid farewell to Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Elizabeth Swann for good, as the actress has revealed her lack of interest in reprising the beloved role for any future installments in the blockbuster Disney franchise.

In a recent interview with The Times (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), Knightley, who portrayed Elizabeth Swann in four of the five films in the series, explained that her priorities have shifted since becoming a mother to two daughters. “I couldn’t go job to job [abroad] now,” she stated. “It wouldn’t be fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children and want to raise them, so I’ve had to take a significant step back.” Knightley also drew attention to the demanding nature of filming the Pirates movies, describing the experience as less than enjoyable: “The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, and you have no control over the location, duration, or content of what you’re filming.”

Reflecting on her time in the franchise, which included a lead role in the original trilogy and a cameo in the fifth installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, Knightley acknowledged the dual nature of her experience. While the films undoubtedly launched her into stardom, she noted that their immense popularity also led to public scrutiny.

“It’s a peculiar situation when something both builds you up and tears you down at the same time,” she said. “I was often criticized because of these films, yet their success opened doors for me to pursue projects that garnered Oscar nominations. These films are the most successful in which I’ll ever participate, but they also contributed to my public downfall. It creates a very mixed feeling for me.”

Disney’s Ongoing Quest for a Sixth Pirates Film

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise remains one of Disney’s most lucrative, with all films collectively grossing over $650 million worldwide. The characters have continued to feature prominently in various media, including appearances in the open-world video game Sea of Thieves and the Disneyland ride.

Since 2011, Disney has been attempting to produce a sixth installment, facing numerous delays due to script issues and the departure of lead star Johnny Depp. After his exit, Disney explored a reboot in 2018 with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, but plans fell through. Ideas for a female-led spinoff starring Margot Robbie also emerged.

In September 2023, The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin disclosed that Disney had acquired a screenplay he co-wrote with Ted Elliott, who was involved in the writing of the first four Pirates films.

As of June 2024, franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer shared that Jeff Nathanson is working on a new script, and two distinct ideas are in development. “We have several options, and we’re unsure which one will take precedence. Hopefully, I’ll have a script soon, and we can see if Disney wants to move forward with it,” he said. Nathanson previously collaborated on the screenplay for 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales, as well as notable works like Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal.

The Pirates of the Caribbean films are currently available for streaming on Disney+.

Source: CBR