Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)

"We wanted to take the pirate genre to a new level, one that had all the thrills and romance that you would expect from a big adventure, but with imaginative, unforgettable characters, state-of-the-art visual effects and a tip of the hat to the original Disneyland attraction, while taking off in whole new directions."

- Jerry Bruckheimer

The Pirates of the Caribbean series is a series of films based on the original Disneyland attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the films were directed by Gore Verbinski (1-3), Rob Marshall (4), and Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg (5). They were most notably written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott (1-4); other writers include Stuart Beattie (1), Jay Wolpert (1), and Jeff Nathanson (5).

The films follow the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), conjointly with Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Bootstrap Bill Turner (Stellan Skarsgård), Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat), Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Supporting characters include Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin McNally), James Norrington (Jack Davenport), Governor Weatherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce), Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), Philip Swift (Sam Claflin), and Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey).

The film franchise started with their first release on the big screen in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which received positive reviews from the critics and grossing over $654 million worldwide. After the film's unexpected success, Disney revealed that two back-to-back sequels would follow as part of a trilogy. The second film, subtitled Dead Man's Chest, was released three years later in 2006; the sequel proved successful, breaking financial records worldwide on the day of its premiere. Dead Man's Chest ended up being the number one film of the year upon earning $1,066,179,725 at the worldwide box office. The third and final installment of the Pirates trilogy, subtitled At World's End, followed in 2007. Disney released a fourth film, subtitled On Stranger Tides, in 2011 in conventional 2D, Disney Digital 3-D, and IMAX 3D. On Stranger Tides succeeded in grossing more than $1 billion, becoming the second film in the franchise and the eighth film in history to achieve this. A fifth film, subtitled Dead Men Tell No Tales, is currently in development.

Audiences around the world knew that the Pirates series had not only breathed new life into a dead genre, but had actually reinvented it. So far, the film franchise has grossed $3.72 billion worldwide, and it was the first franchise where more than one film grossed $1 billion worldwide.

First film
In the early 1990s the screenwriting team of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio pitched an idea for a pirate movie after completing work on Aladdin, but there was no interest from any studio. Undeterred, the writing team refused to give up the dream, waiting for a studio pick up their take on a pirate tale. In 2001, Disney had Jay Wolpert write a script based on Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean ride. When Disney Chairman Dick Cook managed to get producer Jerry Bruckheimer interested in joining the project, Bruckheimer rejected Wolpert's initial screenplay because it was "a straight pirate movie." Stuart Beattie was brought in to rewrite the script in March 2002, due to his knowledge of piracy. Bruckheimer later had Elliott and Rossio work on the script; having been inspired by the opening narration of the ride, they brought the element of the supernatural laced with lots of humor, which gave the story an edge and interested Bruckheimer.

In May 2002, Gore Verbinski signed on to direct Pirates of the Caribbean, with Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush in negotiations 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. Bruckheimer stressed that this wasn't going to be a conventional pirate movie, especially if Depp took the lead role of the renegade pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. 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. Verbinski approached Rush for the role of Barbossa as he knew the actor would not play 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.

The filmmakers were quick to point out that the film was a homage to the popular Disney ride, not a direct interpretation of the attraction itself, although they did rely on sketches and original concept drawings by Marc Davis, one of the ride's innovators, for reference points. Although Dick Cook had been a strong proponent of adapting Disney rides into films, the box office failure of The Country Bears made Michael Eisner attempt to shut down production of Pirates of the Caribbean for budgetary reasons. However, Verbinski told his concept artists to keep working, and when Eisner came to visit Bruckheimer's offices, the executive was astonished when he saw concept art and animatics. Though the movie was then greenlit, several changes were made, including adding the subtitle The Curse of the Black Pearl, in case the film proved to be a success and sequels were made.

Filming for The Curse of the Black Pearl began on October 9, 2002 and ended by March 7, 2003, and the film was released on July 9. Before its release, 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. Eventually, the film grossed over $654 million worldwide, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2003.

Second and Third film
Following the unexpected success of The Curse of the Black Pearl, Disney moved swiftly to capitalize on its new franchise, signing Verbinski, Depp, Rush, Bloom, and Knightley to two sequels, to be shot simultaneously like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This practical decision was made on Disney's part to allow more time with the same cast and crew. Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio decided not to make the sequels new adventures featuring the same ensemble cast of characters, as with the Indiana Jones and James Bond series, but to retroactively turn The Curse of the Black Pearl into the first of a trilogy. Whereas in the first film, the theme park attraction was a wellspring for ideas, for the second and third films they went back to the first movie. 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. Deciding to explore well-known pirate and seagoing lore and mythology, some having been mentioned in the first film, Elliott and Rossio settled on introducing Davy Jones, the Flying Dutchman and the Kraken. They also introduced was the historical East India Trading Company, who for them represented a counterpoint to the themes of personal freedom represented by pirates.

Serious preparation for the films began in June 2004, and production was much larger than The Curse of the Black Pearl, which was only shot on location in St. Vincent. This time, the sequels would require fully working ships, with a working Black Pearl built over the body of an oil tanker in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. By November, the script was still unfinished as the writers did not want director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to compromise what they had written, so Verbinski worked with James Ward Byrkit to storyboard major sequences without need of a script, while Elliott and Rossio wrote a "preparatory" script for the crew to use before they finished the script they were happy with. By January 2005, with rising costs and no script, Disney threatened to cancel the film, but changed their minds. The writers would accompany the crew on location, feeling that the lateness of their rewrites would improve the spontaneity of the cast's performances. For the third film, Verbinski wanted to return the tone to that of a character piece after using the second film to keep the plot moving. Inspired by the real-life confederation of pirates, Elliott and Rossio looked at historical figures and created fictional characters from them to expand the scope beyond the main cast. Finally embellishing their mythology, Calypso was introduced, going full circle to Barbossa's mention of "heathen gods" that created the curse in the first film.

Principal photography for both Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, began on February 28, 2005. Filming for At World's End began as early as April 6, when one of the final moments in the film were shot in production designer Rick Heinrichs's Tortuga set constructed on St. Vincent. Shooting for Dead Man's Chest ended on March 1, 2006, for more At World's End filming back in the Los Angeles area when shooting resumed in August, following the tough post-production schedule on Dead Man's Chest, the film's massive Disneyland premiere, and its July 7 release where it had smashingly successful domestic and international openings. The final, 272nd day of combined principal photography of Dead Man's Chest and At World's End (284 days if one counts pre-principal shooting) on January 10, 2007, just a month-and-a-half shy of two years to the day that the cameras first rolled. For Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, the end of shooting just marked the beginning of an intensive four-and-a-half month post-production schedule for the film's May 25 release.

Dead Man's Chest was also the first Disney theatrical feature film to open with the computer-generated Walt Disney Pictures logo. The logo has opened to further Pirates sequels, let alone Disney films in general.

Fourth film
After the successful opening weekend of At World's End, Disney Chairman Dick Cook said he was interested in a fourth installment. The Los Angeles Times also reported that Bruckheimer already had rights to a book. During production of Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio found Tim Powers' novel, On Stranger Tides, from which suggestions for the story arose for "a new chapter" in the Pirates series. Rossio stated that he and Elliott had considered using Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth as key story elements before reading the book, "but whenever you say those words, Powers' novel comes to mind. There was no way we could work in that field without going into territory Tim had explored." Rossio also said that the script wasn't necessarily based on the book but that they were enough common elements to "think that the book had to be optioned to us," including the film's title. The writing duo once again dug ever deeper into pirate and seagoing history, lore and mythology for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, having added zombies and mermaids. While briefly referenced in Tim Powers' book, mermaids were also already mentioned in the first film.

With the stories of both Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann resolved, concluding with a post-credits sequence in At World's End, Elliott and Rossio decided to do a standalone story, rather than a continuation of the trilogy, or the start of a new one; Tim Powers' novel was a huge inspiration for new characters, theme, settings, and basic storyline. They sought to create new characters while retaining some of the franchise favorites, particularly Captain Jack Sparrow, Hector Barbossa, and Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin R. McNally). A primary character in Tim Powers' novel, Blackbeard was included as the villain for the film, portrayed by Ian McShane. A new female protagonist was created in Angelica, Blackbeard's daughter and Jack Sparrow's love interest, portrayed by Penélope Cruz. Joining the company were other distinguished international actors, including Richard Griffiths, Greg Ellis and Damian O'Hare (the latter two repeating their earlier roles as Groves and Gillette); Spain's Óscar Jaenada; Japan's Yuki Matsuzaki; and Australian supermodel Gemma Ward as the mermaid, Tamara. Also returning was Keith Richards, legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, once again portraying Captain Teague. Portraying the two younger leads of the story were England's Sam Claflin, as the stalwart missionary Philip Swift, and France's Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, making her U.S. film debut as the enigmatic mermaid Syrena.

As Gore Verbinski was unavailable due to his commitment with Rango the same year, both Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp chose Rob Marshall to direct the film. Elliott and Rossio wrote in close collaboration with Jerry Bruckheimer, Rob Marshall, Johnny Depp and Bruckheimer's production heads, Executive Producers Mike Stenson and Chad Oman. Depp was instrumental in the design of On Stranger Tides, from lines of dialogue to the inclusion and development of the new characters. Among Depp's ideas were bringing in an official Spanish contingent to follow the protagonists so this would not be just a tale of "pirates following pirates", recalled Terry Rossio, and the star also urged the writers to turn the character Philip Swift, who was originally a swashbuckling character, into a missionary. Afterwards, Rob Marshall and executive producer John DeLuca met Rossio and Elliot, and did alterations of their own, including building the female lead. After the costly production of two simultaneous films, Disney tried to scale down the fourth installment, giving a lower budget, It was also the first major "exterior movie" to be shot in 3D, as other films, such as Avatar, were mostly done in sound stages.

Filming for On Stranger Tides began on June 14, 2010 and ended on November 19. With 108 first-unit days of filming complete, it was then up to Jerry Bruckheimer, Rob Marshall, John DeLuca and Associate Producer/post-production maestro Pat Sandston to marshal their vast team of film editors, sound-and-visual effects artists, Composer Hans Zimmer and others to complete the film in a pressure-cooker six months before its May 20, 2011 openings around the world. After 46 days in theaters (July 2, 2011), On Stranger Tides grossed over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the second film in the franchise and the eighth film in history to achieve this.

Fifth film
Even before the release of On Stranger Tides, Disney was prepping for Pirates of the Caribbean 5. When Entertainment Tonight reporter Mark Steines visited the On Stranger Tides set shot at the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot in summer 2010, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said, "if people show up for 4, we'll certainly try and do a 5. We're already working on a story, laid out some kind of interesting beats, things we’d like to see in 5. So that’s where our writers are working." On December 3, 2010, HitFix reported that Disney began quietly telling the cast and crew of the fourth film to not occupy their time in the near future, as the studio intended to shoot a fifth and sixth film back-to-back. However, it has since been stated that only a fifth film was in the works.

On January 13, 2011, Terry Rossio was confirmed to write the screenplay for the fifth installment, but without his writing partner, Ted Elliott. Johnny Depp said that he would be happy to return as Captain Jack Sparrow saying "As long as we can put all the puzzle pieces together, I would most definitely consider it". After receiving positive responses at test screenings of On Stranger Tides, producer Jerry Bruckheimer indicated that the fifth film would be a stand-alone film. On May 2011, it was reported that Terry Rossio delivered the script for the fifth film to Disney executives, but the report was later debunked by Rossio himself. Geoffrey Rush had commented on returning as Hector Barbossa in the fifth film, hoping they keep shape-shifting the character. Rush also said that Barbossa's megalomania "could explode in horrific ways." Speaking at the fourth film's press launch in Cannes, Depp said he would play the role for as long as it is popular with the public.

On June 2011, it was reported that Disney has a wishlist of directors they would like to direct, as Rob Marshall has not yet accepted nor declined to direct. The list includes Tim Burton, Sam Raimi, Alfonso Cuarón, Shawn Levy, Chris Weitz, and original Pirates director Gore Verbinski. Verbinski and Burton are Disney's top choices as they have both worked with Disney and Johnny Depp on previous projects. On July 2011, it was reported that Johnny Depp was close to a deal for the fifth film. On October 2011, during The Three Musketeers premiere, Orlando Bloom said he would like to return to the Pirates franchise if he was offered. Later that month, Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that they had a script, but decided they could do better. In an interview, Kevin McNally implied that a 2012 production start date was possible, and had also expressed interest in returning as Joshamee Gibbs. However, in January 2012, Terry Rossio was still reworking the script, and that Rob Marshall and Johnny Depp were still not signed on. On August 2012, news surfaced that Johnny Depp reportedly signed on for a fifth film. On September 13, there was a report by Moviehole that, when asked about the film's plot, a separate Disney contact simply said: "Will Turner's story might not be finished".

On January 11, 2013, Jeff Nathanson had been hired to write the script for the film, though it is unclear whether or not Nathanson would be working from Terry Rossio's draft or if he'll be tackling the project as a page one rewrite. On January 14, Disney announced that Pirates of the Caribbean 5 would be released on July 10, 2015. On May 9, Deadline reported that Disney's short list of directors included Fredrik Bond, Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg, and Rupert Sanders. On May 29, Rønning and Sandberg were confirmed to direct.

On August 22, 2013, Rønning and Sandberg revealed that the film's title would be Dead Men Tell No Tales, alluding to the line well-known from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disney Parks. The duo had been working on the film since May, when they were announced as Disney's choice to direct, and were in pre-production in an office at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. They spoke highly of the script and said they were influenced by the first film, The Curse of the Black Pearl. "We have a great script that Jeff Nathanson has written," Sandberg said. "It's really funny and touching. We're really looking forward to realizing everything."

On September 10, 2013, it was reported that the film had been delayed beyond its initial 2015 release due to issues with the script, and that Jeff Nathanson was at work on a second attempt based on a well-received outline. Sources indicated that a Summer 2016 release is likely.

The Curse of the Black Pearl


For the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), the crystalline waters of the Caribbean, like the high seas the world over, present a vast playground where adventure and mystery abound. But Jack's 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, kidnapping the Governor's (Jonathan Pryce) beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Elizabeth's childhood friend, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), joins forces with Jack to commandeer the fastest ship in the British fleet, the H.M.S. Interceptor, in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl. The duo and their ragtag crew are pursued by Elizabeth's betrothed, the debonair, ambitious Commodore Norrington (Jack Davenport), aboard the H.M.S. Dauntless. Unbeknownst to Will, a cursed treasure has doomed Barbossa and his crew to live forever as the undead, the moonlight eerily transforming them into living skeletons. The curse they carry can be broken only if the plundered treasure is restored in total and a blood debt repaid. Against all odds, the Interceptor and Dauntless race toward a thrilling confrontation with Barbossa's pirates on the mysterious Isla de Muerta. At stake is Jack Sparrow's revenge, the Black Pearl, a fortune in forbidden treasure, the lifting of the pirates' curse that has doomed Barbossa and his crew to live forever as skeletons, the fate of the British navy, and the lives of our valiant heroes as they clash their swords in fierce combat against the dreaded Pirates of the Caribbean.

Dead Man's Chest
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, Captain Jack sets sail on this all-new adventure. In this swashbuckling and spectacular follow-up to the blockbuster 2003 film, the decidedly eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is caught up in another tangled web of supernatural intrigue. Although the curse of the Black Pearl has been lifted, an even more terrifying threat looms over its captain and scurvy crew: it turns out that Jack owes a blood debt to the legendary Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Ruler of the Ocean Depths, who captains the ghostly Flying Dutchman, which no other ship can match in speed and stealth. Unless the ever-crafty Jack figures a cunning way out of this Faustian pact, he will be cursed to an afterlife of eternal servitude and damnation in the service of Jones. This startling development interrupts the wedding plans of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), who once again find themselves thrust into Jack's misadventures, leading to escalating confrontations with sea monsters, very unfriendly islanders, flamboyant soothsayer Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) and even the mysterious appearance of Will’s long-lost father, Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgård).

Meanwhile, ruthless pirate hunter Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Trading Company sets his sights on retrieving the fabled Dead Man's Chest. According to legend, whoever possesses the Dead Man's Chest gains control of Davy Jones, and Beckett intends to use this awesome power to destroy every last Pirate of the Caribbean once and for all. For times are changing on the high seas, with businessmen and bureaucrats becoming the true pirates...and freewheeling, fun-loving buccaneers like Jack and his crew threatened with extinction.

At World's End


It is a dark time as the Age of Piracy nears to a close. Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Company has gained control of the terrifying ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and its malevolent, vengeful Captain, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy). The Dutchman now roams the seven seas, unstoppable, destroying pirate ships without mercy, under the command of Admiral Norrington (Jack Davenport). Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) embark on a desperate quest to gather the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, their only hope to defeat Beckett, the Flying Dutchman, and his Armada. But one of the Lords is missing&mdash;Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), either the best or worst pirate ever, and now trapped in Davy Jones' Locker, thanks to his encounter with the monstrous Kraken. In an increasingly shaky alliance, our heroes, including Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), Pintel (Lee Arenberg) and Ragetti (Mackenzie Crook) must first travel to dangerous, exotic Singapore and confront Chinese pirate Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) to gain charts, and a ship, that will take them off to world's end, to rescue Jack. But even if Captain Jack is successfully rescued, the gathering of the legendary Brethren Court may not be enough to hold back the fearsome tide of Beckett, Davy Jones and their powerful Armada...unless the capricious sea goddess Calypso, imprisoned in human form, can be freed and convinced to come to their aid.

As betrayal piles upon betrayal, it becomes clear that Jack, Will, Elizabeth, Sao Feng, and Barbossa each have their own agenda, and no one can be trusted. Yet each must choose a side, and make their final alliances for one last battle, in a titanic showdown that could eliminate the freedom-loving pirates from the seven seas&mdash;forever.

On Stranger Tides
Travel with Captain Jack on his action-packed journey to the legendary Fountain of Youth. When Jack crosses paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship belonging to the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

Finding himself a prisoner on an unexpected journey to the fabled fountain, Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, who can&mdash;and will&mdash;match him wit for wit and sword for sword, and beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom.

Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
Wenches Scarlett (Lauren Maher) and Giselle (Vanessa Branch) fix each other up for their separate weddings, in which they would each marry their groom. Upon realizing that both their grooms were the same man, Jack Sparrow, the two wenches found themselves in an auction led by the Auctioneer. The short film serves as a prequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, explaining just why Jack Sparrow's boat the Jolly Mon was seen sinking at the beginning of the whole story, and explaining why Scarlett and Giselle were so upset with him.

Significance
Regarding the making of, the success, or critical analysis, the Pirates of the Caribbean series currently are significant in several areas:
 * The successful franchise was based on a theme park attraction.
 * The fact that all major characters have been played by the same actors for the series. Another note given was that the films had a stellar cast.
 * After the unexpected success of the first film, some have said that the Pirates films rescued the pirate genre, noting the series may have repopularlized (or at least set the bar) for period adventures.
 * Each film in the series has been released to critical and/or financial success worldwide. The first film was a big surprise; the second film was the number one film of the year; and the fourth film was the second billion dollar film in the franchise, making Pirates the first franchise to have more than one film reach the billion dollar level.

Cast
The cast of the movies featured notable actors. Chief among them were Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, in their roles as Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa, supported by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley who starred as Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann in the first three films. Throughout the first three films, they were joined by many of the other actors who starred in notable supporting or minor roles. In the fourth film, On Stranger Tides, only Depp, Rush, and Kevin McNally (Joshamee Gibbs) reprised their roles from the first three films, backed by almost an entire cast of new supporting and minor characters.

Crew
The first four movies were worked on by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, costume designer Penny Rose, composer Hans Zimmer. Gore Verbinski directed the first three films, the Pirates trilogy, while Rob Marshall directed the fourth film. While Hans Zimmer took part in making the musical score for the first film, setting the tone, he wanted Klaus Badelt to have the main credit.