During an interview January 9th in Pasadena, producer Jerry Bruckheimer laid to rest the uncertainty regarding Johnny Depp’s participation in the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film. According to Mr. Bruckheimer, both Johnny and director Rob Marshall are “confirmed” for On Stranger Tides, now due to be released on May 20, 2011. “Yeah, everything’s fine,” the producer said. “We’re moving forward. We hope to start in June, and Rob Marshall’s set. We’re moving forward.” Will Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley and/or Orlando Bloom be returning to the high seas? Mr. Bruckheimer skillfully evaded that question. “No deals have been made yet, other than Johnny’s,” he told the press. “We’ll make those decisions later and let you know.”

As for the plot of the fourth installment, “I think it kind of takes off from the end of 3 [At World’s End], where he’s got that map to the fountain of youth,” Mr. Bruckheimer said. “That’s where the story starts. That was the inspiration.”

And how will new franchise director Rob Marshall top the maelstrom climax of At World’s End? “Rob Marshall is an ex-choreographer, so I’m sure he’ll find some really interesting things to play with,” Mr. Bruckheimer said. “Hopefully there will always be signature sequences.”

The Zone thanks FANtasticJD for the Jerry Bruckheimer interview; you can read more about Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet