Arnold Schwarzenegger's Near Miss with Pirate Captain Role 30 Years Ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger was once considered for the role of pirate captain in a project reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean, directed by Chuck Russell.
Imagine a world where Arnold Schwarzenegger could have donned the attire of a pirate captain shortly after his roles in "True Lies" and "Junior." This intriguing possibility emerged in the mid-1990s when Schwarzenegger was considered for the role of Captain John Blood in a film inspired by Rafael Sabatini's novels.
The project, which was set to be directed by Chuck Russell, offers a glimpse into what could have been. Russell shared insights with Slash Film, revealing that the concept was reminiscent of the eventual "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. He noted, "It was quite close to Pirates of the Caribbean before Pirates of the Caribbean. In fact, it was a popular script that might have inspired 'Pirates,' but it was a grand, entertaining, action-filled pirate film. I thought, 'An Austrian pirate? Why not, after all.'" However, he also mentioned that Schwarzenegger was hesitant about taking on a period film, which led him to suggest "Eraser" instead.
Schwarzenegger's experience in period films was limited, having previously appeared in projects like the western "Cactus Jack" (1979) and the fantasy films "Conan the Barbarian" (1982, 1984) and "Kalidor" (1985). By the time the 1990s rolled around, he had shifted his focus toward action roles in films such as "Predator," "Running Man," and "Total Recall," along with comedic performances in "Twins" and "Kindergarten Cop."
While it may be difficult to picture the iconic bodybuilder wielding a sword aboard a ship, it’s likely that Schwarzenegger would have fully committed to the role of Captain Blood, especially with Russell at the helm. The two would later collaborate on "Eraser" (1996), a film packed with memorable one-liners.
The literary saga of Captain John Blood comprises three novels, with the most notable adaptation being the 1935 film directed by Michael Curtiz, which starred Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland. After the dismal performance of "Cutthroat Island" in 1995, pirate films fell out of favor until "Pirates of the Caribbean" revitalized the genre in 2003. Disney has since capitalized on this success for two decades, with plans for a sixth installment currently stalled, as there have been no updates since last October.
