Disney has been trying — and failing — to recreate the success of the firstPirates of the CaribbeansinceThe Curse of the Black Pearlfirst sailed onto the big screen in 2003. Within just a few years of that, the entertainment giant produced two flawed but serviceable, enjoyable sequels that delighted audiences with more swashbuckling fantasy, masterful effects, and fan-favorite character dynamics as the original. However, the franchise has since gone downhill, and most will agree that the laterPirates of the Caribbeanmovies are the worst.
Along the way, Disney tried some moremovies based on theme park ridesand other properties similar in tone toPirates of the Caribbean. Jerry Bruckheimer brought theNational Treasuremovies to the table;The Lone Rangercompletely flopped;Jungle Cruisemade for an average but interesting turn. Yet none of them quite perfected the aesthetic and story perfection ofCurse of the Black Pearl. This only makes the events of 2024 all the more confusing, whenDisney seemingly finally stumbled upon its new and improvedPirates of the Caribbeanbut failed to appreciate it.
Renegade Nell Appealed To Fans Of The Genre Of Pirates Of The Caribbean, With All The Best Parts Of The First Movie
In 2024,Renegade Nellwas released on Disney+ and was allPirates of the Caribbeanfans could have hoped for.The series tells the story of Nell Jackson, a widowed soldier with the charisma and wit to match Captain Jack,who is framed for murder and forced to go on the run with her two sisters, with help from a secret fairy companion. The characters are sympathetic, relatable, and engaging, the fantasy elements are not overwhelming, and the indulgence in the period aesthetic is something allPirates of the Caribbeanfans can instantly enjoy.
Renegade Nell’s first season has an effective ending but still sets up the possibility of more adventures. Nell, her sisters, their allies and enemies still had some mileage left, and the show was well-liked by critics and audiences. Then, infuriatingly,Renegade Nellwas canceled despite its 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. This can only be chalked up to Disney concentrating resources on its major franchises and Renegade Nell not having as big of an audience as they’d hoped — despite the show’s objective success that could have grown into something larger.
Renegade Nell Was Better Than Later Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies (Making Its Cancelation Worse)
Renegade Nell Is Actually An Improvement Upon Pirates Of The Caribbean As A More Recent Entertainment Offering
Had they given it some time, Nell could have become a franchise-leading heroine. The characters and the story ofRenegade Nellwere both substantial enough to carry the show for a few more years. More than that — they were a lot better than the laterPirates of the Caribbeanmovies and even have some advantages overCurse of the Black Pearl. The most recentPiratesinstallments are overwhelmed with convoluted fantasy and slapstick humor, whileRenegade Nellis witty and balanced all the way through.
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Margot Robbie’s Pirates of the Caribbean spinoff has the potential to be much better than a regular sequel, offering more exciting narrative ideas.
Additionally,Renegade Nellhas a more diverse cast and more meaningful story than even the best ofPirates of the Caribbean.Renegade Nell’s plot showcases relevant issues of power imbalances resulting from class, race, and gender, with at least one explicit LGBTQ+ subplot (and some other more queer-coded moments). In retrospect,Pirates of the Caribbeanwas a perfect classic adventure story, but didn’t do the best in the moments where it could have made substantial commentary about the British Empire. Disney missed out on too many opportunities by cancelingRenegade Nell,seemingly not realizing what they had on their hands.
Renegade Nell
Cast
Renagade Nell is a Disney+ original series created by Sally Wainwright. The series follows a young woman named Nell Jackson who becomes a wanted outlaw after she is framed for murder. During her journey, she encounters a magical spirit named Billy, who reveals her true destiny.
Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
