Orlando Bloom on ‘Pirates’ Return: ‘Never Say Never’

Orlando Bloom hasn’t closed the door on returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

48-year-old actor played opposite Johnny Depp, aged 61, and Keira Knightley, 39, in Disney’s pirate series “Pirates of the Caribbean” from “The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) to “At World’s End” (2007). He recently expressed his willingness to return to the role of Will Turner in a future movie.

Back in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, I shared that the thrilling, exhilarating journey wasn’t over just yet – it was a rollercoaster ride I’d gladly hop on again if given the chance. Let me be clear: Jerry Bruckheimer and the entire production are held in high regard by me, and I have nothing but respect for that experience. However, only time will tell if we reunite down the line!

To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought. But I must say, it’s truly rewarding to contribute to an endeavor that seems timeless and enduring, which is quite fascinating.

Earlier, Bloom’s co-actress Knightley expressed that being part of the Pirates of the Caribbean series negatively impacted her career, and hence, she wouldn’t participate in another franchise film.

Despite recognizing his co-star’s viewpoint, the actor – who made a brief appearance towards the end of 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales – expressed eternal gratitude for the time he invested in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He also mentioned that he derived many positive experiences from his involvement in creating those films.

He went on to say: “That moment in time was so monumental, it feels as if it happened in another era altogether. Yet, it was truly exceptional, and I remain grateful for it. I can relate to Keira’s perspective, and she is indeed doing remarkable things… My feelings towards it are overwhelmingly positive.

I, Keira Knightley, have openly acknowledged that my association with the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise was a significant factor in drawing both praise and criticism from critics. However, it’s also important to note that this popular series provided me with the opportunity to showcase my talents in films like the 2005 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” for which I received an Oscar nomination.

She conveyed to The Times newspaper, “It’s quite peculiar when something simultaneously builds you up and tears you down.

They brought me both notoriety and opportunity; I was criticized due to them but also recognized for the movies they led to, which earned me Oscar nominations. They were the pinnacle of my career, yet they were also the cause of my public downfall. So they occupy a complex space in my mind.

Although the future participation of Knightley and Bloom in “Pirates of the Caribbean” remains unclear, there were earlier rumors suggesting that Depp might rejoin the franchise.

After Amber Heard accused him of domestic violence in 2018, Disney cut ties with the actor. However, recent reports suggest that Disney may reconsider and offer him a role in an upcoming film, despite his court acquittal. (Variety reported this possibility last month.)

Currently, the media outlet states that Disney hasn’t yet reached out to Johnny Depp regarding a potential return to the franchise, but they have tasked Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer with creating two scripts – one featuring Depp and another without him. This depends on whether or not the studio can resolve any issues with the actor.

10 Actors Who Adopted Animals From Movie And Sets

1. Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones

In the television series Game of Thrones on HBO, Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark, spent a significant amount of time with the Northern Inuit dog Zunni, who portrayed her character’s direwolf Lady. However, when Sansa was forced to have Lady executed because of Joffrey’s cruelty, this meant that Zunni’s role on the show came to an end. At first, it was planned for Zunni to be rehomed, but Turner intervened. In 2013, Turner shared with the Coventry Telegraph that while she had always wanted a pet dog growing up and her parents didn’t, they eventually fell in love with Sansa’s direwolf Lady on set and ended up adopting Zunni shortly afterwards.

2. Chris Evans, Gifted

In many aspects, Chris Evans’ character Steve Rogers resembles a devoted Golden Retriever in human form, so it’s not surprising that the Marvel actor has a soft spot for dogs. While filming the family drama Gifted in Georgia, Evans took a trip to a local animal shelter during production. He inquired about the adoptable dogs, and when he spotted one particular dog who didn’t seem to belong there, he couldn’t resist. “I was walking up and down the aisles and saw this one dog,” Evans told People, “and he didn’t belong there. I snagged him.” Today, Evans’ dog Dodger is an integral part of his life, often featured on Evans’ social media posts.

3. Audrey Hepburn, Green Mansions

A heartwarming tale about an on-set friendship unfolded between Audrey Hepburn and a fawn named Pippin during the filming of ‘Green Mansions’. To earn Pippin’s trust, Hepburn was told to bottle-feed her. The young deer became affectionately known as “Ip”. In an interview, Hepburn expressed her love for Ip, stating, “I have fallen in love with her.” Ip roamed freely around Hepburn’s house and garden at home. Although Ip didn’t have any teeth yet, she loved to nibble on everything. After the filming ended, Hepburn was heartbroken to part ways with Ip. However, Mel Ferrer, Hepburn’s then-husband and ‘Green Mansions’ director, returned Ip to Hepburn to help her cope with a miscarriage in 1959. Eventually, Hepburn became pregnant with her own child following this period of keeping Ip as a pet. (Source: Mental Floss)

4. Robert Redford, The Electric Horseman

As reported by Horse Nation, Robert Redford’s character Sonny Steele in the movie “The Electric Horseman” allowed Redford to showcase his passion for horses. In his own words, he saw it as an opportunity to highlight his unique connection with horses, while also acknowledging that the film depicted a fading way of life in the American West. Essentially, at the core of the story is a man whose emotional bond is with a horse. It’s worth noting that Redford performed his own horseback riding scenes, and his equine partner was a five-year-old thoroughbred named Let’s Merge. After production ended, Redford purchased this horse and kept him on his ranch in Utah for 18 years.

5. Sylvester Stallone, Rocky

As a movie critic, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character, Rocky Balboa, share the screen with a variety of companions. Yet, it’s not his dog Butkus or any other on-screen partner that has stayed by the actor’s side all these years. That honor goes to his beloved turtles, Link and Cuff, who made their debut in the 1976 classic, “Rocky.”

Fast forward to today, these resilient reptiles are still thriving under Stallone’s care, proving age is just a number. They even managed to steal the show in Stallone’s 2018 film, “Creed II.” In a heartwarming Instagram post from 2019, Stallone confirmed that his turtles are not only alive but also flourishing, despite their age reaching a staggering 44 years!

6. Elizabeth Taylor, National Velvet

In the 1944 movie “National Velvet”, Elizabeth Taylor portrays Velvet Brown, a spirited young girl obsessed with horses. Velvet manages to win a horse competition in the film, and for this scene, Taylor personally chose King Charles, a tense thoroughbred she frequently rode at her private club. According to folklore, King Charles had a unique connection with Taylor, but he was known to bite anyone else. Following the completion of filming, MGM generously presented Taylor with King Charles as a special gift for her thirteenth birthday.

7. Tiffany Haddish, Keanu

In contrast to real-life cats and dogs, the ones featured in movies are usually portrayed by several animals instead of just one. For instance, the adorable kitten named Keanu in the film “Keanu,” starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, was acted by no less than seven different felines. Interestingly, these cats were all rescued from shelters. Once filming ended, one of the kittens found a loving home with co-star Tiffany Haddish. She renamed the cat Catatonic and shared her new pet with her followers on Facebook. However, Catatonic didn’t remain small for long. Today, she’s grown into a full-sized cat who occasionally appears on Haddish’s Instagram.

8. Yvette Nicole Brown, Lady and the Tramp

As a passionate movie critic, I must say that Disney’s live-action reboot of Lady and the Tramp left a paw-some impact, not just on our hearts but also in the lives of many canine companions. Among these lucky dogs was Harley, who found his forever home with Yvette Nicole Brown, who played Aunt Sarah in the film. However, getting matched with Harley wasn’t as simple as picking a pup from a litter. The trainer meticulously observed every potential owner throughout the production, and at the end of the show, she revealed, “I think I have your dog.” With a heart skipping a beat, I inquired about my potential pooch and was overjoyed when she said, “Harley is your dog!” Indeed, she was spot-on. Harley has since become an integral part of my life, snuggling with me regularly, and even gracing us with his presence on Instagram.

9. Viggo Mortensen, Lord of the Rings

Viggo Mortensen honored his role as Aragorn in “Lord of the Rings” by an uncommon gesture – he purchased the horse he rode in the film. In a 2004 interview with IGN, Mortensen shared, “[Uraeus] and I became quite close on set. He joined the movie around the same time I did, so we grew fond of each other.” Wishing to maintain their bond, Mortensen also took in another horse named Kenny to keep Uraeus company. The two horses lived together on a New Zealand farm, where Mortensen frequently visited them until their passing in December 2020.

10. David Dastmalchian, The Suicide Squad

Known more as Polka Dot Man from “The Suicide Squad”, David Dastmalchian didn’t anticipate leaving the DC set with a new feline companion. While filming in Panama, Dastmalchian fell in love with a stray cat that wandered onto the set. He chose to bring her home and renamed her Abner Bubblegum Polka Dot Cat (or Bubblegum for short). In an emotional and cute Instagram post, the actor shared several photos of Bubblegum wearing a Polka Dot Man costume of her own. He wrote in his caption that she has been a blessing to our family and was particularly helpful during the pandemic. “Adopt, don’t shop, and spay/neuter your pets,” he urged.

Read More

2025-01-29 18:24