Big Character Change Confirmed for Upcoming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Reboot
For all the Disney Parks fans out there who were hoping to see the fierce redheaded pirate from the ride make her big screen debut… pump the brakes. It turns out that Redd, the now-iconic female pirate from Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, won’t be the focus of Margot Robbie’s upcoming film after all.
Yep — that theory is officially dead in the water.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the long-running force behind Disney’s Pirates franchise, recently opened up about the future of the films, and while there’s still excitement brewing around Margot Robbie’s potential lead role, Bruckheimer confirmed that this movie is not about Redd, and it won’t be based on the Disney Parks attraction.
Let’s break down what this means and why it’s got fans both relieved and disappointed.
The Boardwalk Times said, “Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that the Margot Robbie-led PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film wasn’t going to be about Redd, a character from the Disney Parks attraction.”
Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that the Margot Robbie-led PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film wasn’t going to be about Redd, a character from the Disney Parks attraction.
(https://t.co/8lVGYXL3vo) pic.twitter.com/8rGBWtfTrf
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) October 7, 2025
A Pirate Everyone Thought Was Set for Stardom
If you’ve been on Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland or Magic Kingdom in the last few years, you’ve definitely seen Redd. She used to be part of the ride’s old auction scene — back when things were, let’s just say, less politically correct — but was reimagined as a saucy, rum-slinging pirate during a ride update in 2018.
Since then, Disney fans have latched onto her as a fresh face for the franchise. Redd has become something of a cult favorite: she’s got merch, artwork, and even fan theories swirling that she’d eventually be the next big thing on screen. Many were convinced Margot Robbie would be playing her in a female-led reboot of the franchise.
The dots seemed to connect. Robbie as a bold, red-haired pirate? Makes sense. Thematically aligned with Disney’s efforts to elevate female leads? Absolutely. But no — Bruckheimer just sunk that ship.
“It’s a Different Story,” Says Bruckheimer
Speaking at The Wrap’s Grill 2025 event, Bruckheimer revealed that at one point, two scripts were in development for the next Pirates film. He explained that one was ultimately dropped in favor of the other — and the one that got the green light has no connection to the Redd character from the parks.
That squashes years of speculation that Disney would tie the ride more directly into the new movie. Bruckheimer also mentioned that Ted Elliott, who co-wrote the first four Pirates films, is working on the new script, meaning it may still live in the same world, just without the characters many fans were expecting.
Margot Robbie is still “involved in some way,” but the direction they’re heading in now seems to be completely original, separate from any theme park character origins.
So… Who Is Redd?
Let’s back up a bit. If you’re not familiar with her, Redd is the redheaded pirate that became the face of the reimagined auction scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Instead of being sold off to the highest bidder (which, yes, was a real scene until 2017), she now stands proud and sassy, auctioning off stolen goods — namely, barrels of rum — and clearly holds her own among the crew.
She’s got an eye patch, a sharp wit, and drinks like she owns the place. It was a clear pivot to make the ride feel more updated and appropriate for modern audiences, and Redd came out of it as a total standout.
Die-hard Disney fans loved the idea of her becoming canon in the movie universe, especially since she was a brand-new character built from the bones of a legacy attraction. Not to mention, she has a backstory involving cursed treasure, Jack Sparrow, and some real Anne Bonny energy — it felt like a no-brainer for her to make the leap to the big screen.
But alas, not this time.
Is Johnny Depp Out Too?
Of course, the big question hanging over everything Pirates is still about Johnny Depp. While Bruckheimer didn’t touch on Depp at the event, the absence of any mention has led many to believe that Disney still isn’t planning to bring him back as Jack Sparrow, at least not in this film.
There were originally two scripts — and many fans now believe the scrapped one may have been the version involving Depp, or at least a character similar to Sparrow. With that off the table, it looks like this Margot Robbie version may be aiming for a clean slate.
Whether that lands with audiences remains to be seen. After all, the Pirates franchise has always sailed on Jack Sparrow’s swagger, and replacing that formula is a risky move.
Where Does That Leave Fans?
It’s hard not to feel like we’re in uncharted waters. On one hand, the idea of Margot Robbie leading a fresh Pirates film, with new characters and original stories, is kind of exciting. She’s proven she can anchor blockbuster films (Barbie, anyone?), and a fresh take might be what the franchise needs to survive another decade.
On the other hand, some fans were deeply invested in seeing Disney Parks characters like Redd become part of the film canon. That crossover between park storytelling and big-screen adaptations is part of what makes Disney’s brand so powerful.
And now, with one script gone and another one in development, we still don’t know exactly what we’re getting — only that it won’t involve Redd, and probably won’t involve Jack Sparrow either.
So for now, the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie is shaping up to be something very new — and very different.
But if you were hoping to see Margot Robbie auctioning rum on the deck of a cursed ship, channeling your favorite Disneyland redhead… sorry, mate. You’ll have to settle for something else entirely.
Stay tuned — the seas are still stormy for this franchise, and anything can change in a heartbeat.