Disney's popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is said to be getting an all-female makeover, with Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie pegged for the lead role.
According to reports, Robbie will star in the new blockbuster, which will feature entirely new central characters and themes, rather than acting as a spin-off from the films featuring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
While details of the film so far are sparse, the remake is said to be being penned by writer Christina Hodson, whom Robbie worked alongside on Birds Of Prey.
The Australian actress has long made her commitment to female-led projects known. Alongside the Pirates of the Caribbean remake, she is also lined up to star as the lead role in Marian – an alternate take on the Robin Hood tale focusing on the central female character.
Disney is not the first to take on a gender-swapped remake of a classic story – here are some other movies that have tried it, albeit with varying levels of success …
1. ‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)
Starring comedy heavyweights Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, this 2016 remake of fan favourite Ghostbusters premiered to mixed reviews. The idea to switch the original Ghostbusters cast members for women in this better-late-than-never sequel came from writer and director Paul Feig, who had previous success with female-driven action comedies including The Heat and Spy. However, the movie was met with lukewarm reviews. Sony has since announced it will make another reboot, this time going back to male actors in the lead roles.
2. ‘Fast & Furious’ (TBC)
Earlier this year, Vin Diesel confirmed plans for a female-led Fast & Furious sequel after writers Nicole Perlman, Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet joined the long-running franchise's team. Diesel is said to have co-written the script, although details of who might star are yet to be revealed.
However, it is likely that some of Fast & Furious' former female leads will make an appearance, including the likes of Michelle Rodriguez, Gal Gadot, Jordana Brewster, Eva Mendes and Charlize Theron. In fact, Rodriguez previously threatened to leave the franchise if it didn't "show some love to the women". It looks like her calls have been answered.
3. ‘Ocean's 8’ (2018)
In 2018, the big screen’s famous heist franchise was given an all-female reboot, attracting Hollywood royalty including Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina and Rihanna. The plot is focused around the theft of jewellery at New York’s Met Gala, and was met with fairly solid reviews all round, as well as being a big hit at the box office.
4. ‘The Next Karate Kid’ (1994)
After three successful stints in schooling original karate kid Ralph Macchio, Mr Miyagi took on a new student, this time a young Hilary Swank. The fourth entry to the franchise was met with less-than-kind reviews by many critics, with the New York Times calling it the "silliest entry yet in this series". For its 2010 reboot, it returned to its male-led format, casting Jaden Smith in the lead role.
5. ‘Herbie Fully Loaded’ (2005)
Disney brought its famous Love Bug out of retirement for a 2005 revamp with Dubai resident Lindsay Lohan in the driver's seat. The film was met with mixed reviews, especially among original Herbie fans, but it did bring the car to life for a whole new generation.
6. ‘The Tempest’ (2010)
Swapping gender roles was a key theme for William Shakespeare, and one that has continued to be explored as his classics are reproduced time and time again. In 2010, it was Helen Mirren who took the lead role of Prospero (or Prospera) in a gender-swapped reboot of The Tempest from Julie Taymor.
While the film won some critical acclaim when it was released, it was largely slammed by cinemagoers, receiving just a 30 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
7. ‘What Men Want’ (2019)
This 2019 romcom took on 2000's What Women Want, with Taraji P Henson at the forefront. The movie flips the script on the original, seeing the lead use her mind-reading ability in her job as a sports editor, which is mired in workplace sexism. While the film won't win any awards for originality, it received steady reviews thanks in no small part to its casting of Henson.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
