Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise

[Zach]

Cough...Cars 2.

And possibly Toy Story 3.

[eddievalient]

The difference is that Pixar apparently had the basic idea for Toy Story 3 years ago (there was something about it in the Ultimate Toy Box dvd set). So while Cars 2 might count as milking a franchise, I don't think Toy Story 3 does at all.

[Zach]

The difference is that Pixar apparently had the basic idea for Toy Story 3 years ago (there was something about it in the Ultimate Toy Box dvd set). So while Cars 2 might count as milking a franchise, I don't think Toy Story 3 does at all.

Yeah, they have been talking about Toy Story 3 for years. I hope it does good, but I'm just not sure how it can live up to the first two in the series. And this is so many years later too.

[Ben]

Yah, 'tis why I only mentioned Cars 2 (although if we all remember rightly, the original Toy Story 2 was nothing but a commercial cash in until hey saw the light and reworked it as a proper theatrical release).

[Dan]

So here's the lowdown on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

The film will be directed by Rob Marshall, whose previous credits are Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha.

Johnny Depp is still on board as Jack Sparrow. He was less enthusiastic at first following Dick Cook's departure, but apparently got the spark back after meeting with Marshall.

The story is based around the search for the Fountain of Youth, which oddly enough is the premise for a book called "On Stranger Tides."

No Keira Knightly or Orlando Bloom. Unknown if Geoffrey Rush might make a cameo.

Ian McShane will play Blackbeard. McShane's credits include Deadwood, Kung Fu Panda, and The Golden Compass.

Penelope Cruz, who recently got an Oscar nomination for her role in Marshall's Nine, will play Blackbeard's daughter... and Sparrow's love interest.

[Dacey]

Actually, Geoferry Rush will be returning. Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed it:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=64428

[Dan]

Well alrighty then.

Would love to see a fun exchange between Barbossa and Blackbeard. A conversation between the two would be such a fun screen moment.

[Sunday]

Scenes like that I can watch all day. Throw Davy Jones into the mix, clicking and scoffing at the both of them and I'll be able to last through at least another two movies.

[Ben]

Depp was less enthusiastic at first following Dick Cook's departure, but apparently got the spark back after meeting with Marshall.

...and being reminded of his ridiculous $25m or whatever it is fee (plus back-end)!

Penelope Cruz, who recently got an Oscar nomination for her role in Marshall's Nine, will play Sparrow's love interest.

Even forgoing this connection, am I the only one who would bet money on there being some show-stopping musical number in this? I mean it's Rob Marshall, for goodness sake - mix in his sensibilities with pirates and I think we can be sure that, at some point (maybe at Blackbeard's daughter's introduction?) we're going to get a shipload of "yo-ho-ho-ing", high-kicking shwashbucklers!

Not saying it might not be half bad, but curious as to whether Marshall (who I think is a good director if a little - no pun intended - one note) can leave the music at home and concentrate on a solid action/adventure movie with a bit of frivolous comedy thrown in. I loved Nine, even if it was Chicago-plussed, but my guess is that we'll see a singin' and dancin' Jack Sparrow this time around.

[Dacey]

Well, Marshall did also direct "Memoirs of a Geisha." No singing in that, although it did have a pretty big dancing scene.

[Dan]

So it appears Keith Richards will return as Captain Teague. In addition, he and Johnny are trying to get Mick Jagger to appear.

[Ben]

I'm telling ya, there's going to be a song and dance routine in this. Rob Marshall, plus the Stones? Some sort of pirate rock with Cruz strutting her stuff has to be on the cards...

[Dan]

Pictures have begun to surface.

Picked up courtesy of MTV.com

01_johnny_depp.jpg (116.83 KiB) Viewed 10086 times

02_johnny_depp.jpg (80.76 KiB) Viewed 10086 times

[Dacey]

Looking better than I thought it might, except that Cruise looks "too clean," for lack of a better way of wording it.

[Dan]

If her character's dad is Blackbeard (Ian McShane on the right in the second picture), then she must've had one hot mama.