Orlando Bloom recently spoke out in support of his Pirates of the Caribbean co-star Keira Knightley, following her comments about the mixed impact the franchise had on her career. Knightley, who starred as Elizabeth Swann alongside Bloom’s Will Turner in the hit series, opened up last November about the public shaming she faced due to her role in the movies.
In an interview with The Times of London, Knightley revealed that although Pirates of the Caribbean made her a household name, it also subjected her to harsh criticism. “I was seen as shit because of them, and yet because they did so well, I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for,” Knightley said. “They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they’re a very confused place in my head.”
Orlando Bloom, reflecting on his time working with Knightley, expressed understanding and admiration for her. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he said, “It was such a huge moment in time that feels almost like another lifetime now… but I certainly understand where Keira was coming from, and she does wonderful things… I have a lot of positive takeaways.” Bloom emphasized his respect for Knightley, acknowledging the challenges she faced during that period.
In the same interview, Bloom addressed the possibility of returning to the Pirates franchise, which is currently in the works with a reboot from original producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Bloom, who has not yet been confirmed to return, said, “It’ll be interesting to see… Jerry always brings out the big guns, as it were – pardon the pun. Cannons, I should say.” While Bloom didn’t commit to reprising his role, he left the door open, saying, “Listen, it was a wild and fun experience, so never say never.”
As for Knightley, she has expressed little interest in returning to another massive Hollywood franchise, citing the intense hours and lack of control as reasons why she’s moved on from that part of her career.
With the Pirates franchise continuing to thrive, both Knightley and Bloom’s contributions remain a significant part of its lasting legacy.