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Pirates 'On Stranger Tides' Story Origins Finally Cleared Up

by Alex Billington
October 7, 2009
Source: LA Times, Empire

There's an interesting story making its way around the web about Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. As was discovered right after the name was announced at the D23 Expo, the title is the same as a book written Tim Powers. Web journalists have been trying to get in touch with Powers to see if that was actually the case. Now via both the LA Times and Empire, the truth has come out, and Powers admits that it was optioned a long time ago and that he just wasn't allowed to say anything until now. In terms of the storyline, well, screenwriter Terry Rossio lays it all out now that the cat's out of the bag.

"We wanted to do a story about Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth, and Tim Powers wrote a book about Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth... it just turns out that to do that story you would need that book. It's brilliant and Tim Powers is an amazing writer - and it's a great title. It allows us to draw material from that universe and his expertise."

You can read more about how Tim Powers' novel got acquired by Disney over on Hero Complex if you're interested. Rossio isn't listed as a writer on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, but he would certainly be in the know and is probably working on it anyway. Empire says that the "Keira Knightley-less Pirates is still penciled in for a July 2011 release." For fans who have been anxious for yet another Pirates movie, this is great news. For everyone else, it seems like they've found a story that has plenty of excitement and is a change of pace for Captain Jack Sparrow, or at least will be different than the last three (hopefully).

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

lego

hopeful news indeed. t'was a good story.
Kenchi

Can't wait for this
http://bellsouth.net Sean

So, i'm guessing that this is official that Pirates of the caribbean: On Stranger Tides is coming to theaters in July 2011 after all, which "of course" is in the summer of 2011.
sean

Good grief, they are beating a dead horse.
Silver

smart move adapting an outside source, keep it fresh using a tried and true story
giraffic

just strap down johnny depp to this and i'm in.
Xerxex

just keep will and elizabeth, their story in done.
Xerxex

I'm meant keep them out.
ImaginaryVisionary

Aside from the twists in the plot, knowing the previous films and typical Disney story telling the story line of this film will be fairly obvious even without reading the book. Sparrow hears about this fountain of youth, so does Barbosa....they compete, but just like in "At Worlds End" have to team up when they meet Blackbeard....or perhaps Barbosa joins Blackbeards crew, you never know. But either way, Sparrow needs Will's help because as of the last Pirates film he was immortal and captain of the Flying Dutchman. There's no need for Knightly because Will can't step on land anyway, and Knightly has to stay home and take care of the Will's pirate spawn. The only real question is who will be Blackbeard and how cool can they make that character. Regardless of my guesses, I don't think they can screw this franchise up. It's just too "cool." I'll admit the 3rd film wasn't all that great, but it was still better than most action films. And you can't beat Depp as Jack Sparrow.
Cody

Yeah there are lots of franchises that feel milked to me but for some reason this isnt one of them...sounds cool
http://www.chelariu.de Paul

The story is fantastic =)
http://www.firstshowing.net me

Blackbeard! Interesting...
AC

raaph finnes or hugo weaving as blackbeard!
Fisherr

I knew they will bring the series back again.
http://jamjam.com jamdolin

Is it just me or does 'On Stranger Ties' sound like a bad soap opera [or porno for that matter]???
CatieLee

Keira Knightley-less Pirates!? Whoo-Hoo! Bring it on. She's just awful.
http://www.superliminal.wordpress.com N

Yesss. No Keira, good story, isin't this an early christmas present? Hopefully they don't mess it up. If it's anything like the first PotC film I'll be happy.
http://www.galaxykid.net Johnny Neat

Keira & Orlando need to be dropped for sure as they sucked any and all goodness from the films. Now is Johnny in or out finally? And will Russell Brand be playing his brother? That would be funny & I think would work considering who his dad is.
http://woodge.com Woodge

For what it's worth, this is one of my favorite pirate stories. I read it 20 years ago and it bears re-reading. Pirates and zombies and cool action abound. Also, fresh faces would be nice for this go-round.
http://www.tor.com Luis M

I hope they make millions with it, just so that they'll consider optioning (and eventually making) Tim Powers' book "The Anubis Gates". Great story which could make a pretty good movie.
BL

I mentioned Power's book on the last post about this movie...Guess I was right.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

@#15, You are so stupid!, i mean really!. If sounded like a porno, then there would be like naughty words involved in the title of the movie!. And get your facts straight, i don't see any that like that in the title at all!, and neither does anyone else here!.
Kala

if johnny depps in it im watching it.
Mea

Hmmm, It's funny because the first movie was inspired by some ILM artwork from a movie version of Monkey Island. Monkey Island (the videogame) was inspired by Pirates of Carribean (the ride) and by (tadam) "On stranger tides" by Tim Powers !
http://bellsouth.net Sean

Mea, WOW, that very interesting!, thanks for that info!. I bet that this upcoming pirates of the caribbean movie will be as good as the first movie!, and as original as the first movie!.Because if they are going to bring down the next pirates of the caribbean movie to its core essence that first movie has!. What that said!, i would think that pirates of the caribbean: on stranger tides WILL be as good as pirates of the caribbean: the curse of the black peral, or dare i say "better!". But i guess that only time will tell what will be the true outcome of the fourth movie, when its released in July 2011 to movie theaters nation wide!.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

Well, its now official!. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is coming to theaters exactly on July 8th, 2011 Friday!. Check it out on imdb.com if you just so happen to not believe me!.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

Pirates 4 is no longer coming out on July 8th, 2011 Friday. It now has the release date May 20th, 2011 Friday.