Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, directed by Rob Marshall and set to be released on May 20th, 2011.

It was announced by Walt Disney Pictures on September 25, 2008 that a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film is in development, and that Johnny Depp has signed on to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. Geoffrey Rush stated that he will reprise his role as Captain Hector Barbossa and is now preparing to shoot the fourth Pirates movie in the spring of 2010.

Casting
Johnny Depp previously stated that he would love to play Jack Sparrow again, but only if the script was good. On the 25 September 2008 Depp formally announced that he was signed on for the fourth film. Geoffrey Rush also expressed interest in playing the role of Hector Barbossa again and has also been signed on.

After filming for At World's End was completed, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom both announced that they were not interested in reprising their roles, as they wanted to pursue different projects, and they felt that the Will/Elizabeth storyline had gone as far as it could. It has since been confirmed that neither Bloom or Knightley are returning.

New cast members include Ian McShane, with the latter confirmed to play the notorious pirate, Blackbeard, and Penélope Cruz, who has been confirmed to play Blackbeard's daughter (also Jack Sparrow's love interest). On February 5, 2010, Mackenzie Crook, who played Ragetti in the films, has stated that he will not return because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Pre-production
According to Jim Hill's The Art of the Pirates of the Caribbean, the proposed story for the fourth film was for Sparrow and Barbossa to meet up in the newly founded New Orleans, before they sail to find the Fountain of Youth together.

In September 2009, Dick Cook, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, resigned after holding his position for over 38 years. The circumstances of his resignation are unknown, but most speculate he resigned due to his conflicting business tactics with CEO Bob Iger. Iger sought out "new ways of doing business", while Cook remained a traditionalist. After Cook's resignation, Johnny Depp's faith in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has somewhat shaken, with Depp explaining that "There’s a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm at the moment. It was all born in that office". Depp also explained Cook was one of the few that accepted his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, claiming that "When things went a little sideways on the first Pirates movie and others at the studio were less than enthusiastic about my interpretation of the character, Dick was there from the first moment. He trusted me."

On November 15, 2009, Disney has announced that they would pay Johnny Depp $55.5 million to return as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Disney announced, on January 7, 2010, that Pirates 4 will be released on May 20, 2011 and will be filmed in IMAX.

During February 2010, the ship that played the Black Pearl, the Sunset, set sail to Hawaii to prepare for the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides during the summer of 2010.

It has been announced that the movie will be in 3-D in theaters after the success of Avatar.

In April 9th, 2010, British actor Stephen Graham has been confirmed as Scram, a new pirate character for the film. Johnny Depp is also in talks with Mick Jagger about being a pirate elder along with Keith Richards, who played Teague in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

On April 14, 2010, Walt Disney Pictures has confirmed that French actress, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, will be in the film as a mermaid named "Syrena". On April 16, 2010, Sam Claflin has been confirmed to play a missionary named Philip.

Cast

 * Johnny Depp ... Captain Jack Sparrow
 * Geoffrey Rush ... Captain Hector Barbossa
 * Ian McShane ... Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
 * Penélope Cruz ... Blackbeard's daughter
 * Stephen Graham... Scram
 * Astrid Bergès-Frisbey... Syrena
 * Sam Claflin... Philip
 * Mick Jagger...(TBA) a pirate elder
 * Keith Richards...Captain Teague

Individuals

 * Jack Sparrow
 * Hector Barbossa
 * Blackbeard
 * Blackbeard's daughter
 * Scarm
 * Syrena
 * Philip
 * Captain Teague

Locations

 * London

Organizations and groups

 * Pirates

Ships

 * Black Pearl