Will Geoffrey Rush Return to Pirates of the Caribbean?

Geoffrey Rush is one of the greatest actors to hail from Australia, and the Queensland-born entertainer is a national treasure. He has appeared in more than 40 films in his glittering career, picking up one Academy Award, one BAFTA award, and two Golden Globes in the process. 

His role as Captain Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise helped Rush achieve global recognition, but it appears as if he is done with that series now. He ended on a high and isn’t keen on making a return. 

At the Heart of a Cultural Phenomenon

When you think of Pirates of the Caribbean, the first thought that springs to mind is probably of Johnny Depp in his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow. The character was undoubtedly the main source of entertainment in the movies, but Rush’s Barbossa has often been referred to as the real hero of the piece. It’s the latter who is the true essence of piracy, and he encompasses the more traditional depiction of these seafarers of old. 

Rush played a big part in helping the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise become such a massive cultural phenomenon. The films have earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide, and they have had an astonishing influence on popular culture since The Curse of the Black Pearl was released in 2003. 

The series from Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films brought pirates back into the mainstream and there are now countless offerings that were inspired by it. The gaming industry is the most prominent place to feature pirates. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag from Ubisoft is one of the biggest console games in recent years. 

On mobile, there are countless options like Plunder Pirates, Pirate Power and One Piece Treasure Cruise. In the slots market, there are pirate games like Treasure Island at LeoVegas. The site has one of the top bonuses according to a review by Bonus Finder NZ thanks to its deposit match offer and free spins. Pirate games act as a big draw for all these platforms, and that is testament to the popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Is Barbossa His Most Iconic Role?

Rush has taken on some iconic roles throughout his career, with his performance in Shine in 1996 his most lauded. He is also known for Shakespeare in Love in 1998 and The King’s Speech in 2010. Many would say that Barbossa is Rush’s best piece of acting, though, as he was able to make the character his own. His performance was stunning, and he brought many layers to the pirate. 

Unfortunately, after Barbossa’s heroic sacrifice at the end of Dead Men Tell No Tales, Rush has confirmed that he won’t be returning to the franchise. He said that if the writers were to come up with some way to bring his character back in the next film, it would cheapen the impact of what happened at the end of the fifth picture. 

Pirates of the Caribbean is likely to continue, but it could have a huge shakeup in terms of cast members. Rush and Depp are both unlikely to return, so the series will go in a new direction. Fans of Rush will be able to see him play Groucho Marx in Raised Eyebrows. The release date of this is still to be announced.