Disney Centers New 'Pirates' Franchise Around Margot Robbie, Forgetting that Zoe Saldana was in the First One

In the midst of a lot of news coming out of the Walt Disney Company this week, it was reported that they are developing a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie centered around a female lead. According to sources connected, Margot Robbie is set to star.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “No plot details were available but the story is being written by Britain’s “Birds of Prey” screenwriter Christina Hodson and produced by longtime “Pirates” filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer, the source said.”

While Robbie’s career is no doubt on fire right now and the company’s goal to potentially develop this franchise around a female lead is commendable, I question why Disney picked a white woman rather than a woman of color, especially when Hollywood is being put on notice to increase BIPOC representation on film.

What’s even more surprising is that Disney tapped Robbie to star in this forgetting that a prominent actress of color had already been featured in the original franchise.

Zoe Saldana(Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar) appeared in the first movie that launched the multi-billion franchise in 2003. She played “Anamaria”, who slapped Jack Sparrow in the face and ended up with her own ship by the end of the movie.

While she might be a minor character in the Pirates universe, the point is that she already exists in the universe and Disney could have tapped into Anamaria to create an interesting story. Instead, they have to create a whole new character and arc to fit Robbie.

Now, since obviously we’re not privy to all the details surrounding this project. Disney could very well have asked Saldana and she might’ve declined. But that’s also unrealistic because is Margot Robbie going to be the third choice for studios at this point? No.

There is also the chance that someone like Saldana wouldn’t want to come back to that property either. In 2018, she spoke out about her terrible experiences making the first movie.

She told Cosmopolitan that,

‘If I’m like “I could have been with my family, in school learning, or travelling, but instead I’m here being treated like an extra but in a very despicable way by people who don’t even speak properly…” my time is being wasted’, she explained to Cosmopolitan. ‘I left that experience feeling a little bitter’

But the point is that there are plenty of actresses of color who could lead this movie that would both fit the part and also be a box office draw. Saldana is a major character in the Marvel Universe. Are you going to tell me that you’re not interested in seeing a new Pirates movie starring Tessa Thompson? Danai Gurira? Lupita Nyong'o? All of whom are fantastic and have also appeared in action films, so let’s put those doubts to rest.

I’m reading reports that this female-centric film will be made in addition to another spin-off from the original franchise. So there’s a chance that this Robbie-led film might not be related to the Jack Sparrow universe. If that’s true, that’s a very dumb idea that Disney should abandon right now. Having a female-centric universe and a, presumably, male one says that the studio has no faith in a female-centric action franchise.

Also, let me just say, do we need anotherPirates of the Caribbean, I don’t see the massive need to revisit that property. But that’s my opinion.

The point is, movie studios have committed to increasing BIPOC representation in their properties. To do that with what could be a new big-budget franchise, would be a huge step forward.

No offense to Margot Robbie, but I don’t need to see another action ensemble cast with an Asian sidekick, who’s probably skilled in martial arts…yeah 'I’m calling that casting right now.

Editor’s Notes: An earlier draft of this article has mistakingly stated that Penelope Cruz is a BIPOC.