FROM MTV.COM: The saga of Johnny Depp and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise has lately hit choppy waters.

After Disney studio chief Dick Cook — Depp's close creative partner — abruptly left the company, the actor said there'd been "a fissure, a crack" in his enthusiasm for the fourth "Pirates" film. On top of that, a new director, Rob Marshall, has come on-board to helm the film after three-time "Pirates" director Gore Verbinski set sail for other projects.

All of these developments cast doubt on the future of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," as the picture will be titled. MTV News had a chance to chat with Depp, People magazine's newly anointed "Sexiest Man Alive," on Tuesday night at the Museum of Modern Art's Tim Burton retrospective in New York, and the star revealed several key points. He hasn't seen a script. He's unsure of what the story line will be. And while he's keen to step into the boots of pirate Jack Sparrow once again, he stopped well short of making a 100 percent commitment to return.

Continue reading Johnny Depp Says He'd 'Love To' Return To 'Pirates Of The Caribbean'

Following the recent departure of Disney studio chief Dick Cook, Johnny Depp admitted to being less enthusiastic about returning to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" ("Pirates" part 4, for those who lost count). And the fans in turn admitted that they'd give up on the franchise without him in it.

That apparently isn't stopping Disney though. According to a tip received by Cinema Blend, the studio is preparing to replace Depp if/when he decides to abandon ship. This may not happen with "On Stranger Tides," as Disney is likely prepared to offer him as much money as it takes to keep him aboard. The actor, who is said to be aware the last two movies "sucked," will definitely not be sticking around for the fifth and sixth installments if the tipster is to be believed. Read more...

Before news broke that Johnny Depp is considerably less psyched to step back into Jack Sparrow's boots for a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" following the exodus of Disney studio chief Dick Cook, MTV News had a chance to chat with franchise co-star Geoffrey Rush about the developing project.

The Australian actor said he's definitely set to reprise his role as nefarious Captain Barbossa, and has been told to keep his schedule open for a possible start to filming next spring. Read more...

A long time ago, we all dreaded Disney's decision to turn its "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme park attraction into a movie. Then Johnny Depp came aboard, and he gave us one of the most iconic film characters of the past decade. Since then, its been harder to be cynical of such adaptations.

Apparently we have Disney studio chief Dick Cook to partially thank for how great the "Pirates" franchise -- or at least the first film -- is. Now that Cook has resigned from the company (Disney denies he was fired), the series could be in jeopardy. Or, at least Depp's involvement with the films may be. Read more...

Zombies, vampires and supernatural masked serial killers: these are the monsters currently revving popular culture's collective engine. That wasn't always the case though. It wasn't so long ago that moviegoers were foaming at the mouths for eyepatches and hook hands, but as Bruno would say, pirates are sooo 2007.

Of course, don't let Disney, Jerry Bruckheimer or Johnny Depp hear you say that -- they're still hard at work on a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" adventure. Or Steven Spielberg for that matter. But there's another filmmaker in Hollywood who is ready to set sail with the scurvy genre, someone you probably wouldn't expect to have an interest in Davy Jones' locker: none other than "Halloween 2" director Rob Zombie.

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Of all the directors in all of Hollywood, could anyone have predicted that the person who’d end up replacing Gore Verbinski at the wheel of the multi-billion dollar "Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise would be the guy who scored an Oscar nod for “Chicago”? You remember, the 2002 musical about those lovely, murderous ladies? The one staring Richard freaking Gere?

Well, according to a report in Variety, that’s what is gonna happen: Rob Marshall is set to assume directing duties for the fourth "Pirates." Hey, it could be an inspired choice or a demented one—who’s to say at this point? So let’s take a look at some reasons why Marshall’s “Pirates” might rock or why it instead might stink, er, sink. Read more...

Remember those end credits in “Grumpy Old Men” that had Burgess Meredith reciting a hilarious laundry list of sexual double-entendres? Well, now I have a new favorite perverse phrase – thanks to the biggest movie star in the world.

As we all remember, Johnny Depp was announced not too long ago as the star of a “Lone Ranger” movie – but instead of playing the man in the mask, he was set to play the Ranger's Kemo Sabe. So naturally, when I spoke to Depp recently at the premiere of his new film “Public Enemies,” I had to get a status report. My question came out thusly: “So, are you workin’ on your Tonto?” Read more...

That image up there is a scan of card that "Public Enemies" star Johnny Depp held in his hands. MTV's Josh Horowitz handed it to him, because the actor has so many projects flying through the rumorwaves that it's hard to keep track.

Depp's big reveals were that he'll be occupied next year with both the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and the long-talked-about adaptation of the UK vampire TV series "Dark Shadows." That's not all though. Slipped into the seemingly offhand comment is Depp's confirmation that rumored director Tim Burton is indeed involved with the project. Fantastic news. As you saw yesterday, Burton and Depp make magic together. Check out a video of Josh's time with Depp after the jump or head over to MTV.com to see the full interview in MTV Rough Cut: 'Public Enemies'. Read more...

Johnny Depp's hands are full of win. He's signed on as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger," a Disney Pictures film adapted from the old-time series that features Depp as a Native American sidekick. The beloved actor has also agreed to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film. These roles emerged as a double-announcement made back in late 2008. Assuming Depp can juggle that busy schedule of his, it's very likely that he'll have yet another wildly popular character on his hands in "Ranger"'s Tonto.

That said, both "Ranger" and "Pirates" are without directors at the moment. It has been unclear as to which of the two projects would be Disney's first priority. Now, producer Jerry Bruckheimer has weighed in with his thoughts, telling ComingSoon that the Depp's bumbling hero-pirate will set sail first. Read more...

The announcement that there was to be a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" installment took no one by surprise. It was pretty much a given when Captain Jack Sparrow unrolled the map to the Fountain of Youth, and set off in pursuit of Captain Barbossa and the Black Pearl.

They may have to keep a weather eye on the horizon because if Bill Nighy has his way, Davy Jones will weigh anchor, and be sailing right behind them.

“I am technically dead but then again, who cares?" Nighy said to MTV News. "Everybody dies in the pirates movies. They killed Johnny [Depp] and Geoffrey [Rush]. Death is not permanent in the pirate world. I have a serious desire to come back.” Read more...