Orlando Bloom Almost Quit 'Pirates of the Caribbean' for the Most Hilarious Reason

Orlando Bloom is known for his unique achievements as an actor – he played leading roles in two of the most outstanding fantasy franchises of the 21st century: Legolas in The Lord of the Rings and Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean.

However, his résumé could have ended with the film adaptations of Tolkien's work since Bloom almost turned down the role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Orlando Bloom Almost Refused the Role of Will in 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

In an interview with L'Officiel, Bloom admitted that the idea of the movie initially seemed absurd to him:

“My agent said, 'Disney wants to make a movie based on a theme park ride', and I was like, 'This is crazy?'”

Bloom shared that, at the time he received the offer, he was filming Ned Kelly with Geoffrey Rush. Rush would later play Captain Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

It was Rush who persuaded Bloom to accept the role. Orlando Bloom joked:

“Geoffrey Rush says I owe him 10 percent.”

'Pirates of the Caribbean' Was an Extremely Risky Project

Orlando Bloom wasn't the only one who didn't believe in the project from the start. Even those who worked on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl considered it an extremely risky move.

In the late 90s, the Disney studio, which had previously used its movie characters to advertise rides, decided to do the opposite and make a movie based on a ride.

In 1997, Tower of Terror was released, and in 2002, The Country Bears dropped. Both were dubious, and The Country Bears also failed miserably at the box office.

'Pirates of the Caribbean' Remains One of the Best Adventure Franchises Ever Made

Only the third attempt was not just successful, but grandiose: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was an immediate box office hit, collecting $654 million, and set a precedent for family cinema because it did not rely on conventions.

Historically, pirates have faced challenges with both the law and film distribution. After the 1940s, films about pirates became rare.

Then, with the release of Cutthroat Island in 1995, movies about pirates became risky propositions – Cutthroat Island grossed only $10 million on a $100 million budget. However, Disney producers decided they could overcome the curse by relying on their own attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, and they were right.

The original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy now remains a vivid reminder of a bygone era, when the seas were boundless and the main characters were fearless.