FROM MTV.COM: When "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" was announced for a summer 2011 release, fans went wild. Then the project hit rough waters following the departure of studio chief Dick Cook, a big supporter of "Pirates" star Johnny Depp. The Jack Sparrow actor subsequently expressed hesitation about continuing with the series.

Still, the project sails forward. Depp's not a lock until he signs off on the script, which he hasn't yet seen, but Captain Barbossa actor Geoffrey Rush told MTV in late September that he's been told to keep his schedule open for cameras to roll next spring.

Continue reading 'Pirates 4' Director Rob Marshall 'Excited' To Work With Johnny Depp

It's a rough year for movie titles containing numbers, particularly the number 9. There's "District 9" of course, and Shane Acker's upcoming animated stitchpunk fantasy "9." Then there's also "Nine," which is -- prepare yourself -- an adaptation of a book based on a musical based on an Italian play inspired by Federico Fellini's classic film, "8 1/2." Whew.

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Guido Contini, an aging director who struggles to his work life with a series of romantic encounters, all while trying to kickstart his flagging creativity. Director Rob Marshall, who will next take on "Pirates of the Caribbean 4," previously did the award-winning screen adaptation of "Chicago," so he's got plenty of experience with musicals. In the exclusive image after the jump, check out Contini sampling the fruits of his midlife crisis. Read more...

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...