When “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” was announced for a summer 2011 release, fans went wild. Then the project hit rough waters following the departure of studio chief Dick Cook, a big supporter of “Pirates” star Johnny Depp. The Jack Sparrow actor subsequently expressed hesitation about continuing with the series.
Still, the project sails forward. Depp’s not a lock until he signs off on the script, which he hasn’t yet seen, but Captain Barbossa actor Geoffrey Rush told MTV in late September that he’s been told to keep his schedule open for cameras to roll next spring.
And before any of that took place, in midsummer, word emerged that Rob Marshall, director of the Academy Award-winning “Chicago,” is negotiating to direct “On Stranger Tides.” So when MTV’s Josh Horowitz spoke to Marshall at the press junket for his upcoming musical “Nine,” he had to squeeze in a few questions about the status of his work on “Pirates.”
“[The deal is] very close to happening, actually,” Marshall said. “I’m very excited … excited to work with Johnny.”
It’s an unusual change of gears for the series. Gore Verbinski directed the three previous entries, a good pairing of material with the same guy who directed “The Ring” and the Brad Pitt/Julia Roberts-starring action/thriller “The Mexican.” Marshall, on the other hand, represents a sharp change in direction, what with his “Chicago” and (soon enough) “Nine” cred — two musicals.
“I think [Disney is] probably looking for a fresh approach,” he explained. “I think it’s good when you’re doing these series’ of films, like ‘Harry Potter.’ It’s nice to bring in a fresh approach.” The real question is, how does Marshall define “fresh”?
“I don’t know yet. Johnny’s playing Captain Jack, so that’s there,” he revealed. “It’ll be its own thing. I’ll approach it as a film.” This confirmation is at odds with that he’d only do another “Pirates” if he read a script that was “worthy of the audience’s attention,” but Marshall is pretty sure the actor is in.
“You know what, [he's in] as far as I know. The truth is, we all love Dick [Cook]. He’s a very special, special man,” Marshall explained. “So [his departure from Disney] was hard for everybody. But Johnny is a great guy and we’ve been looking to work together for awhile, so it’s going to be nice to be able to do that, hopefully.”
Marshall doesn’t have a timetable, though he is certain that “On Stranger Tides” is next for him. Given the musical background, we have to wonder if Depp will get to break into song, especially after his success with Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd” adaptation. And a Jack Sparrow song-and-dance number could be an amazing thing indeed.
“I’m sure we’ll do something,” Marshall revealed. There’ll be a little something in there … from us. The great thing is that I love Johnny. He’s incredible, as an actor and as a person too. So I know it’ll be a great experience.”
Source: MTV.Com
This week People magazine announced its pick for 2009’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” And the winner is … Johnny Depp.
Yawn.
Seriously, was this the most non-news of the week, or what? Sure, I love Depp as much as Tim Burton, but People could’ve been a tad more adventurous with its choices. News flash: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and David Beckham are hot. Pass it on. In 2004. (Or even 1989!)
While the issue has sparked discussion, it probably hasn’t been the sort of talk the mag was hoping for. Robert Pattinson fans are outraged their man wasn’t chosen. And even though I’m not a PatzHead or PattyMelt whatever those people are called, I’ll admit they have a point: That dude can’t go anywhere without losing locks of hair.
Best Week Ever is appalled Jon Hamm was omitted, which is absolutely true: Tell me Jerry O’Connell is sexier than Don Draper with a straight face, and I’ll buy you a Brandy Alexander on the spot. Idolator thinks John Mayer and Robin Thicke should be included. Salon suggests James Franco is the “sexiest man living,” and Moviefone is more excited by GQ’s Men of the Year, which includes a wide range of guys like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Christoph Waltz and the band Phoenix.
So I guess many of us agree: We can still discuss sexy men, though don’t limit the conversation to the same 10 or so fellas every year. Times change, new dudes crop up.
So congrats to Johnny, but in 2010 let’s aim for more diverse people, People. Clooney and Pitt have had their moments. Let them ease into sexy retirement.
Source: USA Today
LONDON - ACTOR Johnny Depp has vowed to save his friend, fellow actor Nicolas Cage, from financial ruin reported entertainment media on Monday.
Cage owes US$6 million (S$8.3 million) in back taxes and Depp has pledged to help his friend of 20 years.
Depp has repeatedly cited Cage’s friendship and connections as leading to Depp’s acting career, reported celebrity website Bang Showbiz.
Cage introduced him to his agent, a move which eventually secured him his breakthrough role in A Nightmare On Elm Street launching Depp’s career.
A source who knows the two friends told Britain’s Daily Express: ‘Johnny called Nicolas and basically told him not to worry and he’d help him and sort everything out.
‘Johnny feels he owes his career to Nicolas and now wants to repay him - if Nicolas agrees. Johnny has never forgotten what Nic did for him.’ — AFP
Source: Strait Times
London, November 15 : Johnny Depp will reportedly receive the highest salary in Hollywood history, amounting to 33 million pounds, for the next installment of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean”
The figure is apparently more than double the fees paid to A-list stars, like Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Harrison Ford.
However, Disney bosses think they still have gained from the deal, the star who plays ‘Captain Jack Sparrow’ had demanded lesser amount but with a share of gross profits.
‘These may seem like astronomical figures but studios can no longer afford such budget-busting agreements,’ the Daily Express quoted an executive as saying.
He added: ‘He commands huge leverage, however, because without him the franchise would be dead and buried.’
The film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ is scheduled to hit screens in the summer of 2011.
Source: New Kerala
“Matt couldn’t be a greater, nicer guy. I’m really lucky that I’m on good terms with him. With Johnny, it’s like we’re good, but we lead very different lives.” WINONA RYDER on ex loves MATT DAMON and JOHNNY DEPP.
Source: Hollywood.Com
Disney is in deep planning for their fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film entitled On Stranger Tides, which is scheduled for a 2011 release. Recently, the studio announced that their longstanding Chairman Dick Cook was leaving the company, and it left a lot of people bitter. News spread like wildfire throughout Hollywood and Johnny Depp wasn’t the least bit thrilled.
He vocally expressed his lack of enthusiasm about returning to do another movie, and clarified that he’s still in negotiations. Will the film go on as planned? Geoffrey Rush seems to think so.
During a one on one interview with MTV, Rush who appeared in the previous Pirates films as Captain Barbossa spoke about the status of On Stranger Tides.
“They’re waiting for the screenplay writers to put together something that’s beyond the trilogy, take it off into a new direction so that it’s fresh and hopefully really interesting for an audience, that they’re not going to just sausage-machine out something else, which wouldn’t be so good.”
He went on to say that the producers have asked him to keep his schedule open, because production on the film could start as early as the spring. Rush seems genuinely enthusiastic about this movie, but I can’t help but notice a dark cloud hovering over it. If Johnny Depp says “no go,” the franchise will be done and that’s it. Depp hasn’t officially dropped out of the film, but his sudden doubt does have fans and executives shaking in their boots.
Source: Screeen crave
When Disney announced the title of the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie would be Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, many instantly speculated that it might be based on a same named pirate book written by author Tim Powers in the 80s. Today speaking with the LA Times Powers confirmed that, yep, it is.
Disney optioned the book three years ago this April, which would mean they already knew what the movie would be about just a few months before our scooper spilled the beans
to us. The book is everything we’ve suspected the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie would be about all along. It involves the pirate Blackbeard on a quest for the Fountain of Youth.
Discussing how his book compares to the existing Pirates films Powers says, “My main character doesn’t overlap with Jack Sparrow at all [in personality or circumstance]; they’re totally different characters. I suppose they might overlap the Geoffrey Rush character Barbossa and Blackbeard. The only thing I feel certain they will hold on to is the Fountain of Youth since they telegraphed that at the end of the last movie.” So if you’ve already read On Stranger Tides, it sounds like you shouldn’t count on the fourth Caribbean movie being exactly the same. More likely Disney is picking and choosing parts to use.
Movie bosses have blasted reports Johnny Depp is set to abandon ship - he isn’t quitting the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.
The actor sparked speculation he will be replaced in his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in future instalments after telling the Los Angeles Times his enthusiasm for the movies had declined following the departure of Disney chairman Dick Cook, who recruited the star for the films.
He said, “There’s a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm (for the project) at the moment. It was all born in that office.”
But a spokesperson for Disney insists Depp has not backed out of the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, branding the rumours “completely unfounded”.
The new movie is slated for a summer 2011 release.
Source: 3 News
Johnny Depp once saved Courtney Love’s life - he resuscitated the singer when she was close to dying.
The former Hole frontwoman has endured a number of troubles over the years, including a lengthy battle with drugs.
Love also struggled financially when her late husband Kurt Cobain’s estate was allegedly looted, and she had to rely on donations from strangers to pay her living costs.
The rocker admits she has cheated death on several occasions - and was once saved by Pirates of the Caribbean actor Depp.
She says, “I mean, I was going to die on a few occasions. Johnny Depp gave me CPR on one. That’s as close as I ever got.”
Source: Houston Chronicle
Following the recent departure of Disney studio chief Dick Cook, Johnny Depp admitted to being less enthusiastic about returning to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (”Pirates” part 4, for those who lost count). And the fans in turn admitted that they’d give up on the franchise without him in it.
That apparently isn’t stopping Disney though. According to a tip received by Cinema Blend, the studio is preparing to replace Depp if/when he decides to abandon ship. This may not happen with “On Stranger Tides,” as Disney is likely prepared to offer him as much money as it takes to keep him aboard. The actor, who is said to be aware the last two movies “sucked,” will definitely not be sticking around for the fifth and sixth installments if the tipster is to be believed.
Is this sad news for us Jack Sparrow lovers? Certainly, but I don’t believe it’s the end of the world for the “Pirates” franchise. Yes, Jack Sparrow — and Depp’s portrayal of him — is terrific and hardly replaceable, but there are other wonderful actors out there who could at least steer the series on their own. And anyway, it might actually be refreshing to follow the adventures of another sort of pirate — a character unlike (and therefore incomparable to) Sparrow.
The plot of “On Stranger Tides,” which Geoffrey Rush claims may begin shooting next spring, could easily work as a changing of the guard.
It was widely believed until last week that “Tides”‘ story will come at least in part from Tim Powers’ novel, “On Stranger Tides,” which Disney owns the rights to. Powers confirmed last Monday that the fourth movie will “use elements” of the book.
Powers’ novel involves a pirate’s search for the Fountain of Youth. The story leaves room for a young newcomer, a character who aids the pirates in their search for the mythic location, to come aboard. While this could turn out to be Orlando Bloom’s role in the next movie, it seems possible that Disney might use that character instead as a Sparrow replacement. Of course, the studio will need more than just a pretty face if they hope to rival — and/or replace — Depp’s iconic pirate.
It’s easy to be cynical and believe Disney would screw it up by casting someone like Zac Efron or Shia LaBeouf as the new lead. Just as nobody wants to see LaBeouf completely take over the “Indiana Jones” franchise — yet — without Harrison Ford, few of these sorts of rising stars are acceptable fill-ins for Depp.
However, I could see the following young men inventing an eccentric character worthy of captaining the series: James Franco; Ryan Gosling; Ben Whishaw; Anton Yelchin; and of course Robert Pattinson (more because of his Dali portrayal in “Little Ashes” than his “Twilight” vampire).
Who do you think could replace Johnny Depp as star of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films? Is there any way you would stick with the series after Depp leaves? Is Disney wasting its time with its preparations?
Source: MTV News
