Disney has been trying – and failing – to recreate the success of the first Pirates of the Caribbean since The Curse of the Black Pearl first sailed to the big screen in 2003. A few years later, the entertainment giant produced two flawed but serviceable and entertaining sequels that delighted audiences with more swashbuckling fantasy, masterful effects, and fan-favorite character dynamics like the original. . However, the franchise has since declined, and most will agree that the later Pirates of the Caribbean movies are the worst.
Along the way, Disney tried out a few more films based on theme park attractions and other similar properties in tone. Pirates of the Caribbean. Jerry Bruckheimer brought the National Treasury movies for the table; The Lone Ranger completely failed; Jungle Cruise It made an average but interesting curve. However, none of them perfected the aesthetic and narrative perfection of Curse of the Black Pearl. This only makes the events of 2024 even more confusing, when Disney has apparently finally stumbled upon its new and improved Pirates of the Caribbean but he failed to appreciate it.
Renegade Nell had the swashbuckling fantasy charm of the original Pirates of the Caribbean
Renegade Nell appealed to fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean genre, with all the best parts of the first film
In 2024, Renegade Nell was released on Disney+ and was everything Pirates of the Caribbean fans could have waited. The series tells the story of Nell Jackson, a widowed soldier with charisma and intelligence to match Captain Jack, who is accused of murder and forced to flee with her two sisters, with the help of a secret fairy companion. The characters are likable, relatable, and engaging, the fantasy elements aren't overwhelming, and the indulgence in the period aesthetic is something everyone will enjoy. Pirates of the Caribbean fans can enjoy it instantly.
Renegade NellThe first season has an effective ending, but it still opens up the possibility of more adventures. Nell, her sisters, their allies and enemies still had some mileage left, and the show was appreciated by critics and audiences alike. Then, annoyingly, Renegade Nell was canceled despite an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. This can only be attributed to Disney focusing resources on their main franchises and Renegade Nell not having as large an audience as they had hoped - despite the objective success of the show which could have turned into something bigger.
Renegade Nell was better than the later Pirates of the Caribbean films (making its cancellation worse)
Renegade Nell is actually an improvement over Pirates of the Caribbean as a newer entertainment offering
If they had given it some time, Nell could have become a leading heroine of the franchise. The characters and story of Renegade Nell were both substantial enough to carry the show for a few more years. More than that - they were much better than later ones Pirates of the Caribbean films and still has some advantages over Curse of the Black Pearl. The latest Pirates installments are dominated by complicated fantasy and slapstick humor, while Renegade Nell is witty and balanced throughout.
Additionally, Renegade Nell has a more diverse cast and a more meaningful story than the best of Pirates of the Caribbean. Renegade NellThe plot shows 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 Caribbean was a perfect classic adventure story, but it didn't perform at its best in the moments where it could have made substantial comments about the British Empire. Disney missed a lot of opportunities by canceling Renegade Nell, apparently without realizing what they had in their hands.