Margot Robbie's Pirates of the Caribbean remake reminds us of these other all-female reboots - but are they worth it?

It's currently in the hands of the Disney gods, but we may be seeing an all-female remake of Pirates of the Caribbean starring Margot Robbie.

Robbie, 32, told Vanity Fair in November they were developing a 'female-led' Pirates of the Caribbean story, 'which we thought would've been really cool, but I guess they don't want to do it,' referring to Disney, the studio that launched the franchise with 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

However, Bruckheimer, 79, insisted in a wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the project is still very much 'alive.'

When Bruckheimer was asked about Robbie's recent comments that the project isn't happening, the producer said, "It’s alive for me. It’s alive for Disney."

The project was first announced back in late June 2020, when it was revealed that Robbie was teaming up with her Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson on this female-led Pirates of the Caribbean project.

While little is known about the story, it was said that it won't be a spin-off of the original movie franchise starring Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, but instead, 'a wholly original story with new characters under the moniker.'

We look at other all-female remakes and ask whether they're given a fair chance when you consider how successful the originals were for box office numbers.

All-female remakes include Ghostbusters (2016), Ocean’s Eight (2018), What Men Want (2019) and How I Met Your Father (2022). All of these ‘female’ remakes have significantly lower IMDb scores than their respective originals. It is difficult to beat the success of Ghostbusters (1984), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), What Women Want (2000) and How I Met Your Mother (2005).

Are these all-female remakes being handed a poisoned chalice? It looks a little like performative feminism when these all-women casts are given a storyline which mirrors ones which have gone before. There are plenty of all-female scripts and pitches being presented before movie executives. There seems to be a lack of confidence in allowing those through without the 'well, it did well with the men a few years ago' angle.

The Guardian gave Ghostbusters (2016) a four star review when it was released and said: "And why was the Ghostbusters trailer so ropey when the film itself fires off a top-quality zinger every 10 seconds or so – except for the lengthy action scenes?" asks film reviewer and journalist Peter Bradshaw.

"Maybe to save the best material for the film itself. Or perhaps it was to lure the misogynists into precisely that online abuse that the movie itself satirises so cleverly."

Clearly some remakes are worth the money.

Away from the remakes, Bridesmaids (2011) written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig is an excellent example of a film with humour and heart that resonates with an audience and is already a classic. It's an original that delivers quality throughout.

There are many examples throughout the decades of strong female-led productions. Grace and Frankie on Netflix, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, is incredible in terms of acting and script.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons and was led by the actress Sarah Michelle Gellar. A woman fighting vampires and winning? There's nothing more iconic and original. The difference is it was written for a woman. It has narrative and dialogue that ring true.

If Margot Robbie and Disney are to secure success of the all-female remake they must ensure it has the quality script with an original plot. Or maybe Margot is best to pursue an entirely new venture which isn't leaving Disney executives harping back to a former glory.