Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most successful fantasy franchises of all time. The adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow – a dodgy and narcissistic pirate with a quirky way of moving and talking – helped Disney earn more than $4.5 billion at the box office with its five chapters.
Iconic fantasy franchises often bring a kind of universe to the fore that is filled with a variety of rich characters possessing their own nuanced backstories. As such, even when the original tale is over, possibilities remain endless for spawning many spin-offs.
Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean is no different, proving to be a source material for many different works. Interestingly, one of the most popular short films based on the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked took inspiration from an original Disney attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean Prequel Plot Took Inspiration From an Unlikely Source
Pirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked is a short film that places itself as the prequel to The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). The James Ward Byrkit-directed film focuses on two feisty brides-to-be who discover that they have something in common – the absent groom. Incidentally, there are many pirates who are happily waiting in the alley to trade their goats for them.
John Vickery portrays the auctioneer, while Vanessa Branch and Lauren Maher play the brides in the story. Interestingly, the plot is inspired by the “Auction scene” from an original attraction. The Walt Disney World resort used to have Pirates of the Caribbean ride with a scene showing a band of women being sold into marriage against their will.
A part of the synopsis of the short film read, “Wedlocked was a labor of love, a short film I directed especially for super-fans of the “Pirates” movies.”
However, the idea of pirates selling off women into marriage attracted controversy in the real world. Accordingly, in 2018, the attraction was temporarily closed and when it opened, the “Auction scene” showed a group of female and male buccaneers selling off stolen goods. Further, the redhead Redd, who was up for sale on a podium in the original scene, switched sides and became a pirate.
Read more: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Director Rejected Heath Ledger From Lead Role Due To ‘Lord of the Rings’
Disney Working On ‘Weird’ Pirates of the Caribbean Reboot
Meanwhile, a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie is also under development at Disney, and much like the Disney World attraction, it is also expected to undergo a massive change.
The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has been working on the script alongside Ted Elliot, one of the original film’s writers. Elliot was also involved in the Wedlocked prequel short film.
Speaking to the LA Times, Mazin admitted that his Pirates of the Caribbean reboot is so weird that he initially thought it wouldn’t get the green flag from Disney. “We pitched it and thought there’s no way they’re buying it, it’s too weird. And they did!” Mazin revealed.
Margot Robbie was also supposedly involved in a different spinoff project that would’ve been more female-driven than previous films. However, that idea was shelved early in 2023.
