If you thought you’d seen the last of Captain Jack Sparrow, think again. Though it may have seemed like “At World’s End” gave a fairly firm conclusion to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, Disney just couldn’t stay away from more adventure on the high seas. “Chicago” and “Nine” director Rob Marshall takes the helm for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which is currently filming in Hawaii.
This time around, Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is confronted with something perhaps more dangerous than anything he’s encountered so far — a feisty woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) who might be after something more than rekindling their romance. Jack is in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, and he suspects she only wants to use him to get to it. When she forces him aboard the ship of Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack realizes his journey to the Fountain is going to be a bit more complicated than he hoped.
I’m not sure how to feel about a fourth “Pirates” movie. Hopefully the trailer will prove me wrong, but I think the first three movies wrapped up all the storylines nicely and Disney should have quit while they were ahead. But Depp is so much fun to watch as Captain Jack that no matter how mediocre the rest of the movie might be, it might be worth a watch just to see him work his magic. I think McShane as Blackbeard is pretty genius casting, but I’m also a fan of continuity in a series, and while Geoffrey Rush and Kevin McNally will be back as Barbossa and Gibbs, it just won’t feel like “Pirates” without Will (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley) and Norrington (Jack Davenport).
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” sets sail May 20, 2011. In the meantime, check out some early footage of filming in Hawaii below.
What do you think? Are you excited for more Captain Jack? Or will you miss the rest of the old “Pirates” crew? Sound off in the comments section.
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