Jacob Elordi’s Forgotten Pirates of the Caribbean Cameo
Before his breakout roles, Jacob Elordi made an unexpected appearance in a blockbuster you’ve likely missed. Discover the early career moment that even his biggest fans tend to overlook.
Jacob Elordi has become a familiar face for many, whether you first spotted him in the Netflix drama Frankenstein or as the heartthrob in The Kissing Booth. But there’s a little-known chapter in his acting journey that most punters have missed—his earliest on-screen appearance was actually in a major Hollywood franchise, long before Euphoria put him on the map.
Early Days: A Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It Role
Elordi’s first foray into film came with a brief, uncredited part in the final instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Dead Men Tell No Tales. Released in 2017, the film saw him don the uniform of a British Redcoat, sharing the screen—if only for a moment—with the likes of Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem. While his role was minor, it marked the start of his career in the industry.
Alongside Depp and Bardem, the cast included Kaya Scodelario, Kevin McNally, and Geoffrey Rush. The film was helmed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. It hit cinemas on 26 May 2017, earning a 6.5/10 on IMDb and a mixed reception on Rotten Tomatoes.
Recognition at the Critics’ Choice Awards
Fast forward to recent years, and Elordi’s career has taken a sharp turn upwards. His performance in Frankenstein, a fresh take on the classic tale, has earned him his first major acting award. At the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards, he took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy, standing out among a tough field of nominees.
Other contenders for the award included Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn for One Battle After Another, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, Adam Sandler for Jay Kelly, and Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value. In Frankenstein, Elordi tackled the role of the monster, acting opposite Oscar Isaac’s Victor Frankenstein under the direction of Guillermo del Toro.
Wuthering Heights: A New Take on a Classic
Elordi’s next project is a fresh adaptation of Wuthering Heights, where he stars alongside Margot Robbie. This version isn’t your standard period romance. The story is split into three acts, echoing the structure of Greek tragedies, with the resolution held back until the very end.
The film draws inspiration from Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, but takes a more psychological and gothic approach. According to the official synopsis:
A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
Elordi steps into the shoes of Heathcliff, while Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw. The film is set for release on 13 February 2026, and is already generating plenty of buzz among fans of the genre.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is currently available to stream on Disney+. Wuthering Heights will hit cinemas in early 2026.