Keira Knightley’s spy thriller Black Doves is already a hit on Netflix, providing the leading, action-packed, comical, and heartfelt role that’s been missing since her last starring Pirates of the Caribbean movie. After making notable appearances in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Bend it Like Beckham (2002), and Love Actually (2003), Knightley skyrocketed to fame at 18 years old upon starring in the main female role in the swashbuckler hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). As Elizabeth Swann, Knightley proved she was highly skilled at playing quick-witted, action-adept romantic lead characters.
Knightley would appear as Elizabeth Swann in four Pirates of the Caribbean movies; her last starring role in 2007’s At World’s End, followed by a cameo in 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales. During this time, Knightley also expanded her filmography through a notable string of period romances and wartime dramas, including Pride and Prejudice, Anna Karenina, The Imitation Game, and, recently, the 2023 crime thriller Boston Strangler. However, it wasn’t until Knightley was cast in Netflix’s Black Doves that it felt like she had another leading acclaimed action project that could size up to her Pirates of the Caribbean role.
Black Doves Is Keira Knightley’s Greatest Action Role Since Pirates Of The Caribbean
Black Doves Returns Keira Knightley To The Action-Heavy Spotlight
It’s been quite some time since Keira Knightley was at the center of a big action/thriller project, and Black Doves arrives with incredibly positive reception from critics and audiences alike. All six episodes of Black Doves season 1 debuted on Netflix on December 5, initially opening to a coveted 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Among the most widely-praised aspects of the series is the performance of Keira Knightley, who leads Black Doves’ cast as Helen Webb, a spy who leads a double life as the wife of the UK’s Secretary of Defense.
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The series kicks off when Helen is informed that her lover, Jason, has been killed, with her investment in the mystery behind his death leading her to reconnect with her former triggerman colleague, Sam (Whishaw), to find Jason’s killer. Along the way, Helen and Sam uncover a dangerous political and criminal scandal connected to the death of the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, putting their own lives and those of their family on the line. Knightley gets to shine in some thrilling action sequences, comical moments, and captivating emotional developments.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) |
79% |
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) |
53% |
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) |
43% |
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) |
30% |
|
Black Doves (2024-present) |
96% |
Overall, Black Doves combines many of the diverse acting skills that Knightley has showcased across various genres and projects over the years. Plus, with Knightley in the starring role, it certainly has the potential to be her biggest action outing since the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Not to mention, it’s also her most critically acclaimed action/thriller role after that time, surpassing the Rotten Tomatoes scores of her movies like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (55%). Currently, Black Doves is Knightley’s highest-rated starring project of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, beating all her Pirates of the Caribbean films.
Black Doves Is A Terrific Replacement For Keira Knightley’s Post-POTC Movie Franchise Rule
Knightley Won’t Join Another Movie Franchise After Pirates Of The Caribbean
As exciting as it is to see Knightley leading another acclaimed, action-packed project, that doesn’t mean it’s setting her up for a return in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Rather, Knightley recently noted that she had no intentions of joining another movie franchise after Pirates of the Caribbean. According to Knightley, franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean can not only be tough on an actor’s career perception, but may also cause prolonged issues with schedules and feeling some control over filming challenges:
“It’s a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time. I was seen as sh*t because of them, and yet because they did so well, I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for. They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of, and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they’re a very confused place in my head.
The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, what you’re filming.”
While Knightley may not take the lead of another franchise like Pirates of the Caribbean, she now has a fantastic, potentially long-running substitute on the small screen. The success of Black Doves makes it likely that Netflix will renew it for season 2, which, if she returns, would mark the first time since Pirates of the Caribbean that Knightley has regularly reprised a role across multiple seasons or movies of a series. Plus, Black Doves is actually centered on Knightley’s character, whereas Pirates of the Caribbean’s primary figure is Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow.
Why The Reviews For Black Doves Are So Great
Black Doves Has A Captivating Story & Breaks Away From Genre Formula
From the opening scene to the final moment of Black Doves season 1’s ending, the Netflix series is filled with intrigue, wonderful action sequences, and some fantastic character-focused dramatic mysteries throughout. Overall, the show has received substantial praise for its humor, emotional story, formula-breaking spy thriller plot, engaging twists, cast performances, and chemistry between Black Doves stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw. It takes some refreshing risks for a spy thriller, and with Knightley and Whishaw at the lead, Black Doves provides entertainment even for more casual fans of the genre.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
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Black Doves
Black Doves is a drama series that centers on the complex interplay of espionage and personal relationships. Focused on Helen Webb, a seasoned spy striving to balance her covert missions with a turbulent family life, the series delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice. Starring Keira Knightley, it examines the moral ambiguities faced by those who live double lives in service to their countries.
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Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
