With the latest mysterious and dauntless installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise hitting theatres this summer, Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), many people feel the series is growing tired — or has already grown tired. This will, after all, be the fifth time we will see “Captain” Jack Sparrow on screen, and, while many are on board with that, it makes us wonder: what’s next for this franchise? Is this film the last of them, or is a sixth film bound to happen regardless? As many might deduce, if a movie makes money, why not keep making sequels until they’re no longer profitable? No matter what money is involved, however, Johnny Depp might not want to stay on past six films. Does the series need a little … pixie dust?
As we all know, Disney is working on their live-action remakes/reboots, which are in various stages of production. Beauty and the Beast (2017) is coming next month; Mulan (2018), Cruella (2018), Dumbo, Tinker Bell, Aladdin, and The Lion King, among many other possibilities, are in the works. Oh, yes, and Peter Pan. See where I’m going with this?
It’s easy to admit that, while Disney will probably be making a live-action remake of Peter Pan at some point, audiences might be a little Peter Pan-fatigued right now, what with NBC’s television musical, Peter Pan Live! (2014) a couple of years ago and the critically disappointing Pan from 2015. We’ve seen Jeremy Sumpter in 2003’s Peter Pan, so what else can we do with this character?
Crossover films are few and far between. Not many are out there to begin with. Many are great ideas, or “what if” speculations that are cool to think about, but plausibly could never happen. Rumors of G.I. Joe and Transformers films colliding are out there, along with a 21 Jump Street and Men in Black fusion (MIB 23?), but these appear to be far off in the distance. Godzilla vs Kong will not be released until 2020. To give Peter Pan’s inevitable live-action treatment some excitement, and to revitalize the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise in possibly its sixth installment, why not crossover Jack Sparrow … with Peter Pan?
It’s really not as crazy as it sounds. Pirates are an obvious inclusion in the Peter Pan stories, what with the renowned Captain Hook and his motley crew, and they had their fair share of screen time in Walt Disney’s 1953 animated classic. The Pirates series in running out of ideas, after using Davy Jones, Blackbeard, and now Poseidon’s trident. What more could you ask for? Even mermaids were in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and they play a role in the original Peter Pan story. Peter Pan and pirates are part of the same universe; it’s not as outlandish a crossover as some of the other ideas out there. Jack Sparrow could team up with Captain Hook — or even become an ally to Peter Pan. Everything would come full circle. And this would not be a remake of the original Peter Pan story with Captain Jack Sparrow thrown in; it would be its own idea, specifically a Pirates of the Caribbean film, centering around one of Captain Jack’s schemes when he happens to get the “boy who could fly” in his way. What an awesome swashbuckling action/adventure film that could be!
This could be the ultimate Disney crossover! And it might just save a couple of franchises without ruining either of them, and not strain our suspension of disbelief.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Straight On Till Morning?
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales hits the high seas on May 26, 2017.
What do you think of Peter Pan meeting Jack Sparrow? What would be a good title? Who should play Peter Pan? Sound off in the comments below!
