Acclaimed actor Austin Butler could be leading the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie if new rumors pan out. Following his performance in the hit sequel Dune: Part Two, it's been reported that Butler is getting eyed by Disney for the Pirates of the Caribbean reboot.

The rumor stems from a report published by The DisInsider. It's noted in the report that Disney has been wanting to work with Butler on a high-profile project, at one point considering the Elvis actor for the live-action Hercules reboot. Also mentioned is that "Disney wants him in Pirates of the Caribbean," but that there's no telling at this point whether that will end up happening.

There have been other recent rumors concerning the future of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. For a while, it was looking like Margot Robbie would be leading a reboot, though the Barbie star has since cast doubt on that project ever getting off the ground. More recently, it was rumored that The Bear star Ayo Edebiri was eyed for a big role in the new film. That rumor still has not yet been proven nor debunked, and while producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that there are still plans to reboot the franchise, no cast members have been officially announced for the next film.

The Next Movie Is Expected to Be a Complete Reboot

Conversely, there have been different reports about what could happen with Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. Many longtime fans of the franchise might balk at the idea of doing another movie without Depp, especially with his controversial exit from the movie series in mind. There were rumors that Disney was hoping to get Depp back as Captain Jack Sparrow in a guest role while new actors would lead the next film, but the latest word is that the next movie will be a complete reboot without any established characters.

As for Austin Butler, fans will be able to see the actor back on the big screen soon enough. After Dune: Part Two, Butler will be back in theaters this summer with the release of his latest movie, The Bikeriders. That will be releasing on June 21, 2024. The actor is also currently working on Ari Aster's next film, Eddington, as part of a star-studded cast that also includes other big names like Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Luke Grimes.

Source: The DisInsider