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, to be released on May 20, 2011 as the sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and its predecessors. It stars Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow), Geoffrey Rush (Captain Hector Barbossa), Penélope Cruz (Angelica), and Ian McShane (Blackbeard). It is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall.

Plot
In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past, and he's not sure if it's love--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 formidable pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Casting
Johnny Depp previously stated that he would love to play Captain Jack Sparrow again, but only if the script was good. On September 25, 2008, Walt Disney Pictures, with Depp, formally announced that he was signed on for the fourth film. Geoffrey Rush also expressed interest in playing the role of Captain 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 would not be 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. 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.

Keith Richards, who played Captain Teague in At World's End, is set to return. Greg Ellis, who played Theodore Groves in the films, has been confirmed to return. Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that Kevin McNally will return as Joshamee Gibbs.

New cast members include Ian McShane, confirmed to play the notorious pirate, Blackbeard, and Penélope Cruz, who has been confirmed to play Blackbeard's daughter, Angelica (also Jack Sparrow's love interest). Astrid Bergès-Frisbey will play a mermaid named Syrena, and Sam Claflin will play a missionary named Philip. Stephen Graham has been confirmed to play Scram, a Machiavellian pirate and the sidekick to Jack Sparrow.

Pre-production
According to Jim Hill's The Art of 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. It was later confirmed that this was false.

Author Tim Powers revealed that Disney bought the film rights to the 1988 pirate novel, On Stranger Tides, in April 2007. It was speculated that the film's plot will follow the novel's, with Jack Sparrow replacing the novel's protagonist, Jack Shandy. Pirates writer, Terry Rossio, revealed that they will use elements from the novel, but the film will not be based on it.

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. 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, where it will portray the Queen Anne's Revenge.

It has been considered 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.

On May 17, 2010, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Rich Ross has confirmed that the film will be shot and released in 3D. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides began filming on June 14, 2010, with their budget of $200 million.

Cast

 * Johnny Depp ... Captain Jack Sparrow
 * Geoffrey Rush ... Captain Hector Barbossa
 * Penélope Cruz ... Angelica (Blackbeard's daughter)
 * Ian McShane ... Blackbeard
 * Kevin McNally ... Joshamee Gibbs
 * Stephen Graham... Scram
 * Greg Ellis ... Lt. Theodore Groves
 * Damian O'Hare ... Gillette
 * Astrid Bergès-Frisbey ... Syrena
 * Sam Claflin ... Philip
 * Keith Richards ... Captain Teague
 * Gemma Ward ... Mermaid (TBA)
 * Yuki Matsuzaki ... Gahreng
 * Paul Bazely ... Salaman
 * Richard Thomson ... Derrick
 * Robbie Kay ... Cabin Boy (TBA)
 * Mick Jagger ... A pirate elder (TBA)
 * Derek Mears ... Unknown role
 * Luke Roberts ... Unknown role

Individuals

 * Jack Sparrow
 * Hector Barbossa
 * Angelica
 * Blackbeard
 * Joshamee Gibbs
 * Scram
 * Theodore Groves
 * Gillette
 * Syrena
 * Philip
 * Teague
 * Gahreng

Locations

 * London
 * Florida
 * Fountain of Youth

Organizations and groups

 * British Empire
 * British Royal Navy
 * Pirates

Ships

 * Black Pearl
 * Queen Anne's Revenge

Title
After the release of At World's End, the proposed title for the fourth Pirates film, which was highly used by both critics and fans, was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Fountain of Youth. However, on September 11 2009, Johnny Depp, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, announced the film is going to be called Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was later confirmed, by author Tim Powers and Pirates writer Terry Rossio, that the novel On Stranger Tides, was used as the basis for the film.

Novelization
A junior novelization of the film is set to be released on April 5, 2011. No further details of it have been released yet.

Trailer
It was announced that the film's teaser trailer will premiere in front of Tron: Legacy in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D showings on Friday December 17, 2010.