LOS ANGELES • The Pirates Of The Caribbean is getting ready to set sail in a whole new direction, with Australian actress Margot Robbie starring in a new version of one of Disney's biggest film franchises.

Robbie, the star of Suicide Squad (2016) and I, Tonya (2017), is to head a female-driven Pirates movie which is in the early stages of development, a source with knowledge of the project said last Friday.

It marks the latest bid by Hollywood to reimagine classic movies by casting women in the lead roles, including the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters starring Melissa McCarthy and 2018 comedy heist Ocean's 8 that starred Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.

No plot details were available but the story is being written by Birds Of Prey (2020) screenwriter Christina Hodson and produced by long-time Pirates film-maker Jerry Bruckheimer, the source said.

The Hollywood Reporter said the movie was a separate project from a new Pirates Of The Caribbean movie announced last year.

Based on a ride at Disney's theme parks, the five Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, starring Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, have taken some US$4.5 billion (S$6.3 billion) at the global box office since 2003.

REUTERS