Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)

"Like the original Disneyland 'Pirates of the Caribbean', we've tried to make our movies an "E" ticket attraction which everyone can ride together."

- Jerry Bruckheimer

Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of films directed by Gore Verbinski (1, 2, 3) and Rob Marshall (4), written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. They are based on the popular Walt Disney theme park ride of the same name. The films follow the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (portrayed by Johnny Depp), along with Captain Hector Barbossa (portrayed by Geoffrey Rush), Will Turner (portrayed by Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (portrayed by Keira Knightley), Joshamee Gibbs (portrayed by Kevin McNally), Angelica (portrayed by Penélope Cruz) and Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

The films started with their first release on the big screen in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. After the unexpected success of the first film, Walt Disney Pictures revealed that a trilogy was in the works. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was released three years later in 2006. The sequel proved to be very successful, breaking records worldwide the day of its premiere. In the end it acquired a total of $1,066,179,725 at the worldwide box office, becoming the fourth and fastest film to reach this amount. The third film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was released in 2007. In September 2008, Depp signed on for a fourth film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which was released on May 20, 2011 in conventional 2D, IMAX, Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D. It succeeded in grossing more than $1 billion, becoming the second POTC film to achieve this.

So far, the film franchise has grossed $3.69 billion worldwide and is the only franchise with more than one film that has reached $1 billion worldwide. It has been confirmed that Terry Rossio is writing a screenplay for a Pirates 5, but the making of a fifth film is yet to be confirmed.

First film
During the early 1990s, screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio conceived of writing a film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Disney had Jay Wolpert write a script based on the ride, which producer Jerry Bruckheimer rejected, feeling it was, "a straight pirate movie." Stuart Beattie was brought in to rewrite the script in March 2002, due to his knowledge of piracy, and later that month Elliott and Rossio were brought in. Elliott and Rossio were inspired by the opening narration of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride, and decided to give the film a supernatural edge. As the budget rose, Michael Eisner and Robert Iger threatened to cancel the film, though Bruckheimer changed their minds when he showed them concept art and animatics.

In May 2002 Gore Verbinski signed on to direct Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush signed on the following month to star. Verbinski was attracted to the idea of using modern technology to resurrect a genre that had disappeared after the Golden Age of Hollywood, and recalled his childhood memories of the ride, feeling the film was an opportunity to pay tribute to the "scary and funny" tone of it. Depp was attracted to the story as he found it quirky: rather than trying to find treasure, the crew of the Black Pearl were trying to return it in order to lift their curse; also, the traditional mutiny had already taken place. Because of the interest in the film, Depp signed on for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. Verbinski approached Rush for the role of Barbossa, as he knew he would not play it with attempts at complexity, but with a simple villainy that would suit the story's tone. Orlando Bloom read the script after Rush, whom he was working with on Ned Kelly, suggested it to him. Keira Knightley came as a surprise to Verbinski: he had not seen her performance in Bend It Like Beckham and was impressed by her audition. Tom Wilkinson was negotiated with to play Governor Swann, but the role went to Jonathan Pryce, whom Depp idolized.

Filming for The Curse of the Black Pearl began on October 9, 2002 and ended by March 7, 2003. Before its release on July 9, 2003, many had expected the film to be a flop, as the pirate genre had not been successful for years, the film was based on a theme park ride, and Johnny Depp rarely made a big film. However, The Curse of the Black Pearl became both a critical and commercial success.

Second and Third film
Seeing the first film's performance, the cast and crew signed on for two more sequels to be shot back-to-back, a practical decision on Disney's part to allow more time with the same cast and crew. Writer Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio knew that with an ensemble cast, they weren't free to invent totally different situations and characters, as with the Indiana Jones and James Bond series, and so had to retroactively turn The Curse of the Black Pearl into the first of a trilogy. They wanted to explore the reality of what would happen after Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann's embrace at the end of the first film, and initially considered the Fountain of Youth as the plot device. But, they settled on introducing Davy Jones, the Flying Dutchman and the Kraken, a mythology rarely mentioned in the first film. They also introduced the historical East India Trading Company, who for them represented a counterpoint to the themes of personal freedom represented by pirates.

Filming for both sequels, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, began on February 28, 2005. Filming for Dead Man's Chest ended on March 1, 2006, and the film was released on July 7, 2006. Filming for At World's End ended on January 10, 2007, and the film was released on May 25, 2007. Both back-to-back films were commercially successful and broke box office records.

Fourth film
Because of the success of the previous films, and Johnny Depp's desire to play Jack Sparrow again, a fourth film was in the works. On April 2007, Disney bought the rights to Tim Powers' novel, On Stranger Tides, which they plan to adapt into the fourth installment. Gore Verbinski was interested in returning, but later left the project to direct a film adaption of the video game, Bioshock. Rob Marshall later replaced Verbinski as the director of the fourth film. Jerry Bruckheimer returned to produce the fourth installment, with writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio writing the screenplay using elements from Tim Powers' novel. While the proposed title for the film, which was highly used by fans and critics, was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Fountain of Youth, Disney announced that the title would be Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Previous cast members Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Greg Ellis, Damian O'Hare and Keith Richards were set to return. Many other cast members, including Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Mackenzie Crook, did not star in the fourth installment. On March 2010, it was announced that Ian McShane and Penélope Cruz would star in the fourth installment. McShane would portray the new villain, Blackbeard, and Cruz would portray Jack Sparrow's love interest, Angelica, who is also the daughter of Blackbeard. It was also confirmed that the fourth installment would be filmed in 3-D.

Filming for On Stranger Tides began on June 14, 2010 and ended on November 19, 2010. The film was released worldwide on May 20, 2011. On Stranger Tides broke box office records and achieving financial success.

Fifth film
Even before the worldwide success of On Stranger Tides, Disney was prepping for Pirates of the Caribbean 5. In January 2011, writer Terry Rossio had been confirmed to write the script for the fifth film, but without his writing partner, Ted Elliott. Johnny Depp said that he would be happy to play Jack Sparrow again, "As long as we can put all the puzzle pieces together, I would most definitely consider it," he said. Speaking at the fourth film's press launch, Johnny Depp said he would play the role for as long as it is popular with the public. After receiving positive feedback on the standalone story of On Stranger Tides, producer Jerry Bruckheimer indicated that the fifth Pirates would be a stand-alone film.

In October 2011, Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that there was a finished script, but decided that it could do better. Orlando Bloom said that he would like to return for a fifth film if he was offered. In an interview, Kevin McNally stated that a summer 2012 production start was possible. Because of the financial success of On Stranger Tides, the film's director Rob Marshall may return to direct.

While in development, the film itself has yet to be confirmed.

The Curse of the Black Pearl
The roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow's (Johnny Depp) idyllic pirate life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and later attacks the town of Port Royal&mdash;kidnapping the Governor's beautiful daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). In a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl, Elizabeth's childhood friend, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), joins forces with Jack.What Will doesn't know is that a cursed treasure has doomed Barbossa and his crew to live forever as the undead.



Dead Man's Chest
Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back for a grand, swashbuckling, nonstop joyride filled with devilish pirate humor, monstrous sea creatures, and breathtaking black magic. Now Jack's got a blood debt to pay&mdash;he owes his soul to the legendary Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Ocean Depths&mdash; but the ever so crafty Jack isn't about to go down without a fight. Along the way, dashing Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and the beautiful Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) get up in the thrilling whirlpool of misadventures stirred up in Jack's quest to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest!



At World's End
Just when he's needed most, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), that witty and wily charmer of a pirate, is trapped on a sea of sand in Davy Jones' Locker. In an increasingly shaky alliance, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) begin a desperate quest to find and rescue him. Captain Jack's the last of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court who must all come together united in one last stand to preserve the freedom-loving pirates' way of life. From exotic Singapore to World's End and beyond, from Shipwreck Island to a titanic battle, this adventure's filled with over-the-edge action, irreverent humor, and seafaring myth and magic.

On Stranger Tides


Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), he's not sure if it's love&mdash;or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

The international cast include franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.