Penélope Cruz joined up with thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise for the fourth installment, but she was notably absent from the following film. The actor had played Angelica inPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the daughter of Black Beard and an old flame of Captain Jack Sparrow’s. She was an intriguing, likable, and somewhat tragic character who fit right in with the morally ambiguous pirates of the overall franchise. It really seemed as if Cruz’sPirates of the Caribbeancharacter was being set up as a franchise regular. However, she only appeared in this one movie.
The last Angelica was seen inPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, she was mourning the death of Black Beard, whom Jack had tricked her into killing. Cruz’s character clearly wasn’t happy about this, but her life was, ultimately, more worthy of saving than her villainous father’s—especially since he refused to sacrifice himself for his daughter. It would have been interesting to see what came of Angelica after this.Cruz and Johnny Depp had great chemistry, and Angelica was a fun and exciting character. Unfortunately,Cruz never returned toPirates of the Caribbean—but why?
Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 Moved In A New Direction After On Stranger Tides
None Of The New Cast Members Returned For The Next Film
Thefirst threePirates of the Caribbeanmoviestold a mostly cohesive story, withDead Man’s ChestandAt World’s Endespecially tied strongly to one another.Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tideswas something of a fresh start, with minimal returning characters and a brand new adventure for Depp’s Jack Sparrow. Since the character of the previousPiratesmovies carried over into sequels, it made sense that the same would have been true for Cruz’s Angelica. However, Disney again took a new direction withPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, andnone of the new cast fromOn Stranger Tidesreturned.
It’s unclear whether there was any attempt to get Cruz back on board or if Disney just took a new direction and never looked back.
It’s unclear whether there was any attempt to get Cruz back on board or if Disney just took a new direction and never looked back. The fact that Cruz’s husband, Javier Bardem, served as the main villain ofPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talesimplies that there was no bad blood and that her role came to a close with no real need for a return. It’s also possible that, given the lower performance ofOn Stranger Tides,Disney thought bringing back more familiar characters and moving on from ones like Angelica was a better financial bet. Still, there are indications that this wasn’t always the plan.
On Stranger Tides' Post-Credits Scene Shows That Penélope Cruz’s Angelica Was Supposed To Return
The Door Was Left Open For Cruz’s Pirates Of The Caribbean Character
Cruz’s Angelica was included in thepost-credits scene ofPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, so the door was definitely left open to her character making a return appearance. She is seen moping on a beach when the Jack Sparrow Voodoo doll washes up on shore, and Cruz delivers a small evil smile before the screen goes black. It’s possible that Disney wasentertaining the idea of Angelica making a return appearance as a newPirates of the Caribbeanvillain, but the idea must have been scrapped. Ultimately, Cruz didn’t have to return, so she didn’t. Still, it might be nice to see this character again someday.
ThePirates of the Caribbeanmovies are available to stream on Disney+.
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.
