Recasting Pirates Of The Caribbean In 2026

Published Oct 28, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

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Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney's biggest and most beloved franchises, especially thanks to the cast and characters involved. Audiences have mostly enjoyed all five Pirates of the Caribbean movies released throughout the 21st century thanks to the swashbuckling adventures, thrilling action, laugh-out-loud humor, and excellent casting decisions across the board.

It all comes back to the brilliance that went into casting Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Orlando Bloom was cast in the lead role as the heroic Will Turner, while Keira Knightley landed the role of Elizabeth Swann when she was only 17 years old. Johnny Depp took on the eccentric pirate captain of Jack Sparrow, while Geoffrey Rush slid into the villain role as Hector Barbossa.

The Curse of the Black Pearl's crew was rounded out by Jack Davenport as James Norrington, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Jonathan Pryce as Governor Weatherby Swann, and Zoe Saldaña as Anamaria, with others filling in smaller parts. Many of the principal stars went on to headline multiple installments, solidifying them as irreplaceable parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

While Disney is still looking for ways to bring the adventure series back, mulling plans for a Depp-led sixth installment or a soft reboot with new actors and roles, they are not known to be considering a full-on remake that would require recasting all the core characters. But with 23 years passing since Pirates of the Caribbean's first movie, the series would look a lot different if Disney were remaking it in 2026.

Joseph Quinn As Will Turner

Disney recasting Will Turner would become one of the most sought-after opportunities for younger British actors. Just about every major star in their early 30s or mid-to-late 20s would be vying for the part. Kit Connor, Tom Holland, and Leo Woodall are but a few names who Disney would certainly consider.

But the best choice would be Joseph Quinn. He's shown in Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps that he has the right mixture of heroism and compassion to embody Will Turner. He can do the action, comedy, and romance required, while making sure the character remains honorable and easy to root for.

The 32-year-old British actor would be a tad older than Bloom was (25) during The Curse of the Black Pearl, but that wouldn't change much of Turner's story. Even if the remake wanted to keep him younger, Quinn has a younger-looking face to pull off being a few years younger than he really is.

And with Quinn already part of the Disney family through his MCU role, this would be a great bet to stay in business with a talented young man.

Freya Allan As Elizabeth Swann

Recasting Elizabeth Swann could go in several different directions. Disney could make her a bit older by seeking out a major star like Florence Pugh, go for a more popular young star like Millie Bobby Brown, or take a chance on some up-and-coming British actresses like Emma Mackey or Emilia Jones.

To fully capture Elizabeth's strong will, fearlessness, rebellious side, and charisma, Freya Allan would fit in nicely for a Pirates of the Caribbean recast. She's already tackled similarly fierce roles by playing Ciri in The Witcher and Mae in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. That experience would translate well to playing Elizabeth.

At 25 years old, Allan would help make Elizabeth a bit older than she was when Knightley first played her. This would avoid any awkward age gaps for the Elizabeth and Will romance, while also allowing Allan to bring an additional maturity and confidence to the character.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As Jack Sparrow

Replacing Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow would be Pirates of the Caribbean's biggest challenge in a remake. The actor really made the role his own, and while he became increasingly silly as the franchise continued, his deception, wit, unpredictability, and wild personality were all there from the start.

For all the previous talk of how Matthew McConaughey, Mads Mikkelsen, Joaquin Phoenix, and other actors could replace Depp in future Pirates movies, they are all too old for a proper reboot. Robert Pattinson, Tom Hardy, Jonathan Bailey, and Dan Stevens are a few actors who could conceivably walk into Jack Sparrow's boots and do a good job taking the character for a spin.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson would be an exciting choice to play a new Jack Sparrow, though. The 36-year-old actor has proven to be quite the chameleon as his career has extended. If you combine the unseriousness of his The Fall Guy role with the comedy from Bullet Train, his usual heroic and charismatic qualities, and the eccentricity of Nocturnal Animals, he has the makings to do a really fun take on this role.

Taylor-Johnson has plenty of action experience if Disney wanted to increase that aspect of Sparrow's portrayal, while the actor has a bit more darkness to bring out the character's moral ambiguity. He would be an excellent fit for Pirates of the Caribbean if given the chance.

Hugh Jackman As Hector Barbossa

For the franchise's big villain role, Disney would certainly swing for the fences by going after every big name in the industry. Christian Bale, Idris Elba, and Ralph Fiennes are but a few stars who could tackle Barbossa with a purely evil intent while still adding some layers.

Hugh Jackman would work wonderfully as part of Pirates of the Caribbean's recast. The Wolverine star could leave his heroic character behind to bring the same intensity and determination to Barbossa and really make the villain shine. Jackman already has experience playing a pirate villain after being Blackbeard in 2015's Pan, but that didn't go so well. This would be a chance at redemption.

This would also be a full-circle casting choice for him and the franchise. When Disney was looking to cast the first movie over 20 years ago, Jackman was one of the actors they considered to play Sparrow. Instead of snagging that role, he takes on the villain part in this hypothetical recast. He also keeps an Australian actor in the part.

Harris Dickinson As James Norrington

James Norrington played a key role in the first few Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The key to recasting the role would be finding someone who could play the disciplined, proper, and honorable British naval officer while acting as a foil to Joseph Quinn's Will Turner.

Someone like Josh O'Connor could be a good fit, but Harris Dickinson would be a better choice. He has experience with similar roles in The King's Man and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. He's got the stature and presence to be quite believable as a military commander, while having enough tenderness to still pine after Elizabeth Swann.

Karl Urban As Joshamee Gibbs

Jack Sparrow's first mate Joshamee Gibbs is a key contributor to the Pirates franchise, leaving his mark by being incredibly loyal, reasonable, and practical. Disney would need someone older than Aaron Taylor-Johnson in this version of the film who can be a wise confidant throughout the sea-traveling adventures.

There are plenty of veteran actors that could fit the role, ranging from Gary Oldman to Jude Law, but one that would also work is Karl Urban. He's known for playing a bit more gruff characters, so this would be a chance for him to show a slightly different side. His and Taylor-Johnson's dynamic would be terrific. Urban already proved he's perfect for Pirates of the Caribbean with a different pirate movie, too.

Ewan McGregor As Governor Weatherby Swann

Elizabeth's father, Weatherby Swann, is known for being a polite aristocrat who takes his responsibilities as a dad very seriously. Disney could easily recruit someone like Colin Firth to take on the role, but Ewan McGregor would be another excellent choice.

The veteran actor has years of experience playing protective characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, so it would be fun to see him bring those qualities to a new franchise. This would also make good on a missed opportunity for McGregor, as he was in the running for Will Turner years ago. Weatherby Swann isn't as exciting of a character, but he would crush the part nevertheless.

Ana De Armas As Anamaria

© Vertical Entertainment

One of the other notable pirates in The Curse of the Black Pearl is Anamaria, the tough smuggler who is quick to spring into action, but was underserved by limited screen time. After casting an actress of Caribbean descent, Disney could look at everyone from Lashana Lynch, Jenna Ortega, and Adria Arjona, but Ana de Armas fits the bill, too.

Roles in No Time To Die and Ballerina showcase the necessary qualities to play Anamaria. A Pirates of the Caribbean remake could even increase her role and make her more of Jack Sparrow's equal, allowing her to be a great partner for the franchise's iconic pirate.