‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Star Officially Exits Next Movie
Keira Knightley has confirmed she won’t be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the special screening of The Woman in Cabin 10 in London on September 25, the 40-year-old actress said she has no plans to reprise her role as Elizabeth Swann, despite her co-star Orlando Bloom expressing interest in a cast reunion.
Knightley first played Elizabeth Swann in the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie, which premiered in 2003. The film followed Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) as they tried to reclaim the Black Pearl and rescue Swann from the pirate Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush).
The fifth and latest installment, Dead Men Tell No Lies, came out in 2017.
When asked if there have been any discussions about a new movie, Knightley said, “There haven’t. I actually just heard that for the first time just then so there you go, but no there are no conversations.”
She added, “You know I think my pirating days are over. I think I definitely spent many years doing that and, you know, it was amazing and I’m very pleased to have been a part of that, but I suspect that my swashbuckling days are done… but I do look quite swashbuckling tonight!”
Orlando Bloom has previously spoken about a potential reunion for the franchise. At the 2025 Fan Expo Chicago, he told Entertainment Weekly, “Everything is in the writing, right? Everything is on the page, and I think there’s definitely, I’m sure there’s a way to create something. I would personally love to see everybody back. I think the way to win on that one is to get everybody back. If they can, and if everybody wanted to go back.”
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer also commented on the future of the series. In an August interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that he has spoken with Johnny Depp about a sixth installment. “If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it,” said Bruckheimer. “It’s all about what’s on the page, as we all know.”
It seems Knightley is ready to move on from her pirate adventures, leaving the door open for other characters to return. Her decision makes it clear that any future installment may have a very different dynamic from the previous films.
What do you think about Knightley stepping away from the franchise? Do you want to see a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie without her? Share your thoughts in the comments.
