Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Flag...

I've loved pirate adventures since I was old enough to hold a toy sword...

Honestly, I believe my first experience with pirates was the "Swiss Family Robinson" film with my mom and uncle.  Followed by watching and then reading "Treasure Island" as an adolescent.  The ultimate experience of riding Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  I remember seeing old pirate films on cable growing into my adulthood.

In college I read the screenplay for the remake of "Captain Blood" that was to star Alec Baldwin when he was at right age with the right amount of buzz to star in it.  The adventure and excitement of being a pirate and sailing into the unknown with the chance of finding treasure was so alluring.  An aquatic Indiana Jones type of adventure almost if you think about it.

So when Disney announced that they were going to make a film adaption of their famous attraction I was both excited and worried about how it would turn out.  And when I saw it, I loved it.   I even like the slow, heavy layered story, but visually exciting sequels (the second was good, but overblown, and the third was bazaar and filled with bloated fun, the last one was simply an experiment carried too far in the wrong direction).

And then they began videogame adaptations of the films.

And most of what Disney Interactive came up with was disappointing to uninspired; a collection of mediocrity, with the exception of the Lego game.  It seems all Lego games are fun or at least playable.  From the original Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl for Gameboy to the Pirates of the Caribbean Online game, nothing was inspired, everything was average to unworthy.  With a franchise of so much potential, nothing was worthy of the film(s) they were trying to exploit.

Sounds a bit like Lucasarts with Star Wars doesn't it?

And then there was Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned and Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas.  Monumental games with hugely ambitious goals.  Put together by teams that were filled with disfunctional supervision and divided goals.  The companies that we're doing these games were not up to the task of such an epic scale.  Studios like Naughty Dog and companies like Electronic Arts should have done these, not the middling companies that Iger acquired as part of his digital strategy (still his greatest error as CEO).

So it looks like we'll never see a great Pirates game.

But it seems we will.  But it's actually not a Pirates of the Caribbean game, and it's not even made by Disney Interactive.  It's made by Ubisoft.  And if you want to see what a POTC game could/should have been, this is it:

Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag.

For anyone wanting to see the potential of what could have been, or someday might be, then check out the latest trailer for it.  Or check out the reviews and you'll know that it is possible to make a pirate game worth playing.  And therein, worth purchasing.  Are you watching Disney Interactive?  Here is solid proof that there is treasure out there if you care to find it.

You now have a map to find that treasure...

Dead Men Tell No Tales In Summer 2015...

The voyage has been postponed...

The fifth Pirates adventure of Jack Sparrow has had the wind knocked out if its sails.  Jerry Bruckheimer announced that "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" was still having script problems and wouldn't join the incredibly long list of blockbustets coming out in 2015.  At the very least it will be delayed till fall of 2015, but more likely summer 2016.

The real problem is the script (too bad that didn't stop them on POTC 4), but also there are budget factors as well.  The Lone Ranger's shadow is cast high above this production.  Even Depp with his star power isn't enough to just blindly go forward.  Which is a good thing to me.  I'd rather them focus on getting a solid script with a compelling story and engaging characters.  The Pixar mantra: story, story, story should apply here and everywhere, always.

But for those wanting to set sail with pirates, you'll have to wait longer to plunder...

UPDATE:  The guys over at Bleeding Cool have a new article that reveals what could be the plot line for the script.  Just keep in mind that the script is currently being rewritten so any and all of these details could vanish with the completion of another draft.  Time will tell...

Norwegian Pirates...

Walt Disney Pictures has finally chosen the director(s) for the fifth pirate adventure...

The trades are reporting that the Mouse has chosen the directing duo behind "Kon-Tiki" to take the franchise into the fifth film.  Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg will make their English language debut with this outing of the Johnny Depp franchise.

The script written by Terry Rossio, since taken over by Jeff Nathanson in the latest drafts.  Rob Marshall had expressed interest in directing, but instead chose "Into the Woods" (we should be relieved).  Jerry Bruckheimer is still producing the film which is scheduled to be released in summer 2015.

The directing duo have made a small film on water look big, now they'll have a chance to make a big film look bigger...

A Ship Searching For A New Captain...

Walt Disney Pictures is slowly narrowing the list of people they want to helm the latest Pirate film...

With the decision to go forward without Rob Marshall (a good thing, IMHO), the Mouse has come up with a number of directors that would/could be offered the job of directing the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film.  It's an interesting mix of hungry new comers and outsiders they've narrowed it down to:

Fredrik Bond (The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman)

Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg (Kon-Tiki)

Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman)

The word coming out so far has the directing duo of Ronning and Sandberg as the ones with the buzz heading toward getting the offer.  Personally, I'd like to see Sanders get the call since his direction of the revisionist, live-action "Snow White" was very good, and he showed an ability to look outside where the story has been.  This could come in need when dealing with the fifth film in a franchise.  That said, all the choices look like the Suits are wanting to come at the film from a different angle than where the money train has gone before.

That's a good thing.  The script for this adventure is being written by Jeff Nathanson, from a story/idea by Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio.  Naturally, Jerry Bruckheimer will be producing the film again.  And the release date is for the epic 2015; which is when Disney will take over the world and all will scream out in fear.  And Jack Sparrow will be there, sword in hand to help lead the way along with Iron Man and Luke Skywalker.

Still, you wonder how many more Depp will do before another pirate will take over the pillaging...

2015: Becoming A Disney World...

With all the major purchases over the last five years, the Walt Disney Company is about to have a bumper crop...

What am I talking about?  Well, between the purchases of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, not to mention the live-action/animated films coming from the main branch, the Mouse is gearing up for a monster year.  That year will be 2015.  Just a little more than two years from now Disney will dominate the box office.  It's simply a given.  What films will they release that year?  Take a look at what most likely will be the summer offerings:


Avengers 2

Pirates of the Caribbean 5

Star Wars 7

Finding Dori

Walt Disney Animation Studios release (which one hasn't been determined yet, more in a future post.)

Tron 3 (not announced, but likely)

Ant-Man

Can you imagine the box office that year?  The public is going to get very used to seeing that castle every time they go see something at the local movie theater.  I don't believe any other film studio has had such a dramatic effect on the box office of an entire year this much.  It's going to be a very interesting year.  I'm trying to picture what the other major studios are going to line up against it.

And it's not just the films they release that will mark the year for Disney, but the theme park expansion as well.  There are several expansions (including a rather nice one for Disneyland if it's green lit) that could happen, but aren't approved as of yet.  These are the main two expansions that are on schedule to be opened.


Disney's Animal Kingdom: Pandora: The World of Avatar (tentatively)

Shanghai Disneyland 


This year will mark the end Disney's normal content distribution system as well.  Starting the next year, Netflix will be a primary driver of Mouse entertainment that will likely change distribution channels.  So this year will close on a normal way people get shows, films, and possibly even gaming.  Better sign up now.

Bob Iger is going to be leaving the company on a high note.  The opposite of how Eisner left the entertainment giant.  It's hard to believe how large the company has grown in the last decade, but it shows the popularity of the Disney brand.  Of course, Iger will still be there for a year or so after his resignation as "Chairman Emeritus", but the day to day of the company will be handled by one of four people who now report to him.

Just don't let it be Rasulo...

A Fifth Trove Of Treasure...

There's a lot of booty where that came from...




 

You knew that it was coming...

When something is as successful as the Pirates franchise, a film studio isn't going to let it die.  And as long as they can make interesting stories into films I don't really mind.  That means that "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" offers a bit of an obstacle.  If we judge by the good story standard then that film should put a bullet in the tale of these pirates for eternity.  It was bad.  It was boring, it was bland, and felt like a relative that had stayed too long after the clock struck twelve on New Year's Eve.

I didn't think it was a great continuation of the Jack Sparrow character, and it was a waste of a villain as deliciously evil as should have been Blackbeard played by Ian McShane.  And Rob Marshall should not have been the director, nor should he be the one behind the camera in any future Pirate films.  He was simply the wrong man for the job, unless Walt Disney Pictures planned on making the film a musical, which they weren't.

So today we find out that the Mouse has hired a new screenwriter to take over from Terry Rossio and craft a new story with a fresh take.  For those of you that haven't heard, Variety is reporting that Jeff Nathanson has been hired to be that writer.  I don't know what to think yet about this because Nathanson has done some great work (Catch Me If You Can), but he's also did a lot of mediocre work (Rush Hour 2), and even some bad work (Speed 2, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).

Now, time will tell if the drafts that made it up on the silver screen were actually his, or the result of a Frankenstein-like script process where many authors put in a clueless collection of their own words.  Sometimes the person to blame for something bad belongs to one man/woman, and sometimes the blame should be spread around.  When we see the results of his work on this we can then make a better judgement.

I'm hearing that Suits in Burbank want to do a Mission Impossible thing and bring in someone that can take over the franchise when Depp no longer wants to, or is just too old to be plundering.  The same way Jeremy Renner came into "Ghost Protocal" to be there for Tom Cruise to hand off the series once he's done.  Maybe that's why Nathanson was hired: to prepare for that day.  We'll know more as the year moves forward, but right now all we have is the name.

We'll have to wait till we see more of the map toward this new treasure...

A Final Pirate Trailer...

Yo ho, and a bottle of rum...






Finally, a "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" trailer that actually makes me want to see it...

The last couple of trailers for POTC 4 have been ok, but have mainly played up Johnny Depp being in the film. They haven't left me all that excited, even though I planned on seeing them. I love pirates so I would go see it no matter what. But this one actually shows some of the story, and some of the new world that this film will inhabit. And it looks like a place I would want to enter.

Now there is a good reason to take a drink of this rum...

The Blackest Beard...

Well, shiver me timbers...






No sooner had I mentioned I couldn't wait to see Ian McShane's one-sheet than it appears...

Well, it came out yesterday, but I've been away from Blue Sky Headquarters, so I wasn't able to post it till now. Of course, it doesn't show any action, it's a character sheet for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." And although he doesn't look like what I expected, I know that McShane will deliver an amazing performance. I know that his character is based on the real pirate, but it's a story involving more myth than the man. Still, it would be nice to see them incorporate some of the real man's history into this pirate fairy tale. Perhaps if the tone and scope of this film is closer to the original, we can expect the second trilogy to materialize in a less chaotic way.

But this is Hollywood and wishing that might be a little unrealistic...

UPDATE: If you'd like to see the collection of all the character one-sheets, then head over to Coming Soon's post here.

Oh Captain, My Captain...

We named the monkey part four...






Walt Disney Pictures has released another character one-sheet for the next Pirates adventure...

Geoffrey Rush/Hector Barbossa appears in this poster for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," with that crazy eye glaze that tells you to stay away because he's just a bit wacky. I don't mind Elizabeth and Will missing from these stories, but I'm glad Sparrow's foil and nemesis has not been left out of these new adventures. I can't wait to see one with Ian McShane as Edward Teach.

Setting sail in less than two months...

The Fourth Post...

Yo, ho, yo, ho...







The first poster for "Pirates of the Caribbean : On Stranger Tides" has been released...

Wonder what they're trying to sell here? Obviously, Jack Sparrow is playing an important role in this, but it'll be nice when we get to see Ian McShane and other in a more flashing sheet.

I can't wait to see how they continue the storyline from the original trilogy into this trilogy.

Yes, I know, you heard me say that. It's not earth shattering, and it doesn't require brain surgery to come to this conclusion. One doesn't have to have their head in Fantasyland to realize what success will mean for this franchise in film and attractions. A hit is a hit.

But if this one is a hit you can believe that there will be more to follow..

Stranger Trailer...

Yo, ho, ho buckets of bootey...




The first trailer for Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" has been released...

So you won't have to wait till you see "Tron Legacy" this weekend to view it.

I smell the beginning of a new trilogy, or maybe that's just the rum...

Teasing Pirates...

Yo ho, buckets of mo...






The teaser poster for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is out...

Looks like Captain Jack hasn't been doing very well, does it?

Six months to go before we find out why...

From Pirate Gold To Silver Bullets...

Hi ho...


It seems that Jerry Bruckheimer is getting closer to finding a director for his "Lone Ranger" remake...

And it's a familiar face/name that is the likely candidate: Gore Verbinski.

The famed "Pirates" director is in talks to helm the story of the famous western hero. That would reteam him with Johnny Depp and put the picture on a track for filming sometime next year. Of course, with Depp's list of projects that really is very fluid. The man is more in demand than water is in a drought.

No official start date has been announced, but if Verbinski signs then you can bet that this project will move to the front burner for the Mouse and Jerry. The earliest you'd likely see it is the holidays, 2012. But that's just an estimation. Still no word on who will don the mask, but I'd guess people like Crowe, Clooney and McConaughey are on the short list. My choice?

Jon Hamm...

Blackbeard's Ghost...

Since hearing that the villain of POTC 4 was going to be Blackbeard, we've all wanted to see what he would look like...

Once Ian McShane was cast as the infamous pirate, many have been curious to see what the look his version of the villain would be. Now we know, kinda. The folks over at PopSugar get the prize apparently. Of course, the image is small and blurry, but it's the first one that we've seen public of McShane in the role.

I can't wait to see a nice, clean one-sheet of this guy glaring at me...

Message In A Bottle...

Yo, ho, yo, yo...


Those that were lucky enough to get in to the "Tron Legacy" panel got more than a few surprises...

One of those was a message from a rum drunk captain by the name of Jack Sparrow.

Enjoy his rantings, and his bloody mary...

The Plot Thickens...

Walt Disney Pictures has released the plot of their fourth Pirate film...

In a press release, the Mouse has given us a little more information about the story of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" for fans to mull over till next summer:

Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' Comedy Adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in Disney Digital 3D(TM) Begins Production.

Johnny Depp returns to his Academy Award(R)-nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, joined by Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin in Fourth Entry of Blockbuster Franchise..

Production has commenced on location in Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Los Angeles on Walt Disney Pictures' and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' sweeping comedy adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," directed by Rob Marshall ("Chicago"), the fourth entry in the blockbuster franchise which has already reaped $2.7 billion in worldwide box office from the previous three films, and the first to be filmed and presented in Disney Digital 3D(TM). Johnny Depp
returns to his iconic, Academy Award(R)-nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, newly joined by Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Rob Marshall's "Nine"), Ian McShane (HBO's "Deadwood") and newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin. Also rejoining Johnny Depp and Captain Jack are Academy Award-winner and three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush ("Shine," "Shakespeare in Love") and Kevin R. McNally (first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "Valkyrie"). The film is slated to open May 20, 2011.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM). In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is written by "Pirates" veterans Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and John DeLuca.

Joining Bruckheimer and Marshall for the new voyage is a top-flight group of award-winning behind-the-scenes artists, including director of photography Dariusz Wolski (first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"), production designer John Myhre (two-time Academy Award(R) winner for Marshall's "Chicago" and "Memoirs of a Geisha"), costume designer Penny Rose (all three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"), visual effects supervisor Charles Gibson, who won an Academy Award for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Oscar(R) winner and eight-time nominee special effects supervisor John Frazier ("Pirates of the Caribbean" films," "Pearl Harbor") and stunt coordinator George Marshall Ruge, who also devoted his talents to the previous three "Pirates" films as well as Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer's "National Treasure" franchise. The editors include two Oscar winners, Michael Kahn ("Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time") and David Brenner ("Born on the Fourth of July"), as well as Wyatt Smith (Marshall's "Nine").

Rob Marshall's first three films, "Chicago," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Nine," have been honored with a total of 23 Academy Award(R) nominations. For his work on "Chicago," winner of six Oscars(R) including Best Picture, Marshall received the Director's Guild Award, an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe Award(R) nomination, a BAFTA nomination The National Board of Review Award and the New York Film Critics Online Award. A six-time Tony Award(R) nominee and George Abbott Award winner, Marshall's extensive work on Broadway includes co-director and choreographer of the worldwide award-winning production of "Cabaret" and director/choreographer of the Broadway revival of "Little Me," along with many others. He also produced, directed and choreographed the NBC television special "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," which earned seven Emmy Awards(R), including three for Marshall, and directed and choreographed Disney/ABC's critically acclaimed movie musical "Annie," which received 12 Emmy nominations with two wins, including Marshall for Outstanding Choreography; it also won the prestigious Peabody Award.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will film on the islands of Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii, followed by locations and studio work in the United Kingdom and Los Angeles.

Can't wait for the trailer...

Disney's Armada...

It's been one of those days were a particular kind of news just rises above everything else...

Lots of video game news with E3 been going on. The trailer has been released for Disney Interactive's new game, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned." It looks pretty cool. Now if we can just get some in-game footage to see if it flows well.

I feel as though Propaganda Games is to Disney/Marvel as Rocksteady Studios is to Warner/DC Comics. Now, I know the Mouse is wanting to expand the Pirates universe beyond what it is and not rely on Captain Jack Sparrow as much. We'll see if they succeed. I certainly thing the world that this franchise based on a Disneyland attraction is worthy of exploring.

Let's see what port this thing sails us in to...

Persian Reviews...

Well, the reviews for Walt Disney Pictures' "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" are starting to come out...

"As of this writing, no one has actually made a great video game movie. But now someone has at least made a good one.

It is good old fashioned Jerry Bruckheimer cotton candy entertainment; sure it’s tasty, but it evaporates on your tongue the moment you touch it." - Massawyrm, Ain't It Cool News

"Why is it that at the end of the film, I walked away feeling like I just saw a big trailer with no movie attached?

"Prince Of Persia" works as mindless, forgettable, sit-in-the-air-conditioning entertainment, but it's not built to last, and it offers nothing lasting to an audience." - Drew McWeeny, Motion Captured

"Prince of Persia is a rip-roaring great time at the movies, a summertime treat that "reverses time" to when flicks were just plain fun. Mixing old-fashioned content and state of the art effects, this Jerry Bruckheimer production trades ‘pirates' for ‘princes' to revive the swashbuckling, sword fighting spirit of the sort Douglas Fairbanks or Errol Flynn specialized." - Pete Hammond, Box Office Magazine

"To the credit of director Mike Newell (drawing on his Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire wrangling skills), a conclave of screenwriters who keep the dialogue on the sharp side, and the life's-a-game instincts of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, all that Arabian Nights-like stuff unfolds at a brisk, well-paced clip." - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

"Its restraint might put off thrill-seekers, but if you can endure the wooden dialogue and sloppy exposition, it musters the entertainment quotient of a middle-order Harry Potter." - Ian Nathan, Empire Online

"With apologies to Ben Franklin, the only things certain in life are death, taxes and that a Jerry Bruckheimer film will do its bombastic best to pummel, pound and, now, parkour you into submission. "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is all that — deaths by the thousands and the sort of spectacular spectacle possible with a rumored budget of $150 million and change.

But it should be more." - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"Aimed squarely at youngsters and families, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," which had its world premiere in London on Sunday, is a handsome, fast-paced and innocuous adventure that's easy to take but lacks epic scale." - Ray Bennett, The Hollywood Reporter

"For twenty years, audiences have been noticing the similarity between big action and fantasy movies and video games, but “Prince of Persia” goes beyond similarity; it actually feels like a video game." - David Denby, The New Yorker

"Another video game to movie disaster? Doubtful. Bruckheimer knows what the audience is looking for and Prince of Persia, if it makes tons of dough, is going to be the eventual replacement for the Pirates franchise.

Prince of Persia is a lighthearted but troubled movie. Troubled in that the plot makes no damn sense and the movie is too long." - George 'El Guapo' Roush

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, is still no more or less than an all-out Jerry Bruckheimer adventure. His fondness for regular beats of action, idiosyncratic comic relief and a love-hate relationship between the lead couple are all present and accounted for, and at times you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd wandered into Pirates 4.

And that's no bad thing, because what Bruckheimer does best is deliver entertaining summer adventure for the multiplex masses, even if it does follow a tried and true formula. If it ain't broke, as they say, don't fix it" - Joe Utichi, Cinematical

Bit of a mixed bag, with some dealing light praise while others damning it with faint criticism.

Well see after Sunday if the Mouse has a successor to Pirates franchise...

Reporting History...

This just in...

Nikke Finke over at Deadline Hollywood is reporting that "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will be in 3D!!!

TOLDJA! Amazing! Unbelievable! A revelation! I am stunned that this has happened! Nowhere on the web have I...

Ever...

Heard...

This...

Before...

Casting Fourth...

Yo, ho, ho, ho...


With all the casting news lately for Walt Disney Pictures "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" we can finally start seeing a bit of how the story will play out...

A little.

I mean, let's take who we know is in the film first of all, and then examine who each of them will be playing.

Captain Jack Sparrow - Duh. The classic Disneyland attraction may have been created without him, but the film series depends on this roguish character as much as Raiders of the Lost Ark relies on Indiana Jones. It's hard to believe this character at one time was being thought of for Matthew McConaughey. Then again, it's hard to believe that Tom Selleck was going to by Indy.

Captain Hector Barbossa - Although it's not official, Geoffrey Rush has talked about returning and with the plot line that ends in "At World's End" it only seems natural that Barbossa would chase Sparrow looking for revenge and that map. He's the perfect foil to Sparrow, even if not the perfect villain in part four.

Joshamee Gibbs - Jack's right hand man should likely see adventure again so long as the crew under Captain Rob Marshall see fit. Where would Sparrow be without Gibbs to help him out of a tight spot or an empty flask of rum?

Pintel - Barbossa's short, puggish and blunt member of the crew was hilarious and a great straight man to Ragetti. These two make a great 1700'a Abbott and Costello. These two would more than likely be in tow with Captain Hector.

Ragetti - The funny man in this two man comedy act. String bean tall, dim whitted and one eyed crew member won't be seen far from Pintel. Like Yen and Yang, they go together.

Blackbeard/Edward Teach/Edward Thatch - The scourge of the high seas. The perfect villain if played/written correctly. I wondered where he was in the Pirate World when watching the original series and now that's going to be answered. I'm excited to see how McShane plays him. If there is any pirate to be a bad guy, it's Edward Teach. The mythos surrounding him lend itself to some great sea tales.

Blackbeard's Daughter - Who would have known that the pirate had a daughter? And who would have thought she would be as hot as Penelope Cruz? I'm sure the character is designed to be a love interest for Jack Sparrow. That would be a nice change since the love angle in the original series was set up for Will/Elizabeth.

Syrena - The lovely and alluring mermaid, Astrid Berges-Frisbey will play a siren of seas that will most likely play out in another fantasy world like Davey Jones Locker. I wonder if she'll have seashells strategically placed and sing songs about the world of humans?

Philip - A youthful missionary named Sam Claflin. This character will possibly be a moral point, by which I mean, a way to give exposition to the story. Or at least someone to offer prayers when Blackbeard makes Sparrow walk the plank.

Scram - A loathsome pirate played by Stephen Graham. Not much else is known about the character, but since it was announced in the trades I expect the character to play a central role in the plot.

So we know a little about the people that populate this fourth film. Slowly, the world expands and as the weeks pass I'm sure we'll see and learn more of this new voyage.

Dead men tell no tells...