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Rob Marshall Confirmed as Director of Pirates of the Caribbean 4

by Alex Billington
November 17, 2009
Source: Ain't It Cool News

So it was first rumored back in July that Oscar nominated director Rob Marshall (of both Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha previously) might be taking over Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise in place of Gore Verbinski. As much as I didn't want this to happen, it turns out that it definitely is Marshall's job (at least as long as Disney convinces Johnny Depp to return and shoot this next year). Marshall recently appeared at a DGA screening of his new film Nine (another musical) and, according to a report on AICN (via The Playlist), confirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean was next for him. Here's what AICN's reader said.

I just saw the DGA screening of Rob Marshall's latest movie, NINE tonight and stayed for the Q & A after, so I thought I'd write in to share my thoughts. First, let me just get the HUGE scoop out of the way: when asked about his next project (by Nora Ephron, who hosted the Q&A), he replied 'y'know, it's something that I was offered and never in the world thought I would do but then I was like 'why not?'... I'm doing 'Pirates of the Caribbean....''' That's right-- Rob Marshall is directing the next installment of the 'Pirates' franchise. The only additional thing he mentioned about it was that he had a wonderful meeting with Johnny a little while ago and that they're both excited to work together.

While that's hardly an official confirmation from Disney, it does sound like Marshall is on-board as long as Disney gets this into production in 2010 as originally planned. But why am I so upset? Because Marshall is a director of glorious, gorgeous musicals, not gritty action-adventure movies like Pirates of the Caribbean. I have no clue how he's going to handle a project this epic and with this much water, but I hope he doesn't screw it up. I'll be a bit nervous with him in the director's chair, but admittedly still curious to see if Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a return to form. Who knows how the fourth one will even turn out?

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lego

depp should get them to wait for verbinski. as much as i would like to see another 1, enough time would have passed for gore to come up with a new set of refreshing ideas...hopefully
Ben

Marshall looks like some dude that belongs a day-time soap. Anyways... good news I guess, could do a lot worse than Marshall and at least you can expect a good visual flick.
beavis

i find it hard to believe that the series can recapture the glory of "pirates 1" with marshall. i'm very surprised at this selection by disney.
Cineprog

what can a musical Director bring to pirates of the caribbean, they would have been getting Depps mates sutch as Terry Giliam, Tim Burton to Direct the new pirates of the caribbean on strange tides.
yowsaman

OMG! dont screw this franchise up pls. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but i hope it wont be a jolly old dancing movie.
http://www.andreascliment.com Andreas Climent

I'd really prefer Gore Verbinski to direct any future Pirates movies, but at the same time, I understand if he wants to do new things.
DRM

I can't believe you describe the "Pirates" movies as "gritty action-adventure". There's nothing "gritty" about the "Pirates" movies. I mean, yes, there was literal grit, but the tone of the movies has ALWAYS been fantastical and elaborate. The over the top "action" of the films had far more in common with dance choreography than actual combat. And now this next one is supposedly centering around Johnny Depp's character specifically, who is the most fantastical and elaborate character in the whole franchise. I don't know much about this new director, other than I didn't like "Chicago" for a number of reasons, but I still think it's totally unfair to dismiss him so early in the process.
Voice of Reason

Just read the book "On Stranger Tides" and it was a great read. I share your hesitation in embracing him because of musicals, buuuuuuut after the 3rd one I'm ready to give the high-hat to the franchise anyways, so I have nothing to loose if it sucks....which, I suppose, I'm kinda banking on.
http://www.bleepinggeek.com Pete the Geek

Ooh! Oooh! OOOOOOooooh! Pirates of the Caribbean 4! Yay! Let's take a franchise that has sucked for two movies now and tack on another useless chapter! Woohoo! Hell, while we're at it let's get people started on Matrix 4, and another Star Wars prequel! Wheeee!
Dude

Yeah, I was extremely disappointed with Pirates 3 so I'm ready for a change of pace (and I'm happy that neither Orlando Bloom nor Keira Knightley will be returning) so I've got high hopes and as #8 said nothing to lose! @ Cineprog: I don't know if i'd like tim burton directing as I'm sure it would vastly change the feel of the films (although it is called On Stranger Tides so who knows) but I LOVE the idea of Terry Gilliam directing this! That would be crazy!
Jambi

#9 I thought Dead Man's Chest was brilliant. At World's End was pretty terrible though.
Ostilad

Pirates should be kept in Gore's lap. I was surprised by how good Curse of the black pearl was seeing that Gore came off The Ring, but I do not think surprised like that grow on trees.
Cody

Pirates 3 was OK at best...but I dont think getting rid of Verbinski helps the franchise at all.
Antioch

I actually liked all three, Dead Man's Chest the least, but still enjoyed watching all of them. Honestly, their biggest problem was Orlando Bloom, in my opinion. He just didn't work after the first one for some reason. Also, you're always going to run into editing/ choppy problems when filming two movies at the same time, which is the issue with DMC & At World's End. I think if they focus on the single movie, Strange Tides, it will come out a winner, with either director, on the same lines as Black Pearl.
JP

@ #7 I'd say At Worlds End was pretty gritty. Sure all of them are fantasy, but I think each movie has gotten darker and more adult. At worlds end was probably the darkest disney movie i've ever seen. Captain Jack Sparrow talking to another (dead) version of himself that has his brain hanging out of his head comes to mind. Plus there was a lot of death throughout. The first two were fantastic adventure movies, the last one was something different. I actually enjoyed the last movie except for the girl becoming a chinese queen or something for some weird, nonsensical reason and then there was that whole Calypso thing that really served no purpose. look a giant woman! it was just too absurd even for this franchise. This guy has only done musicals, but they've mostly gotten praise, so obviously he's a good director. I can't wait to see Russel Brand aka Aldous Snow in this movie. He's in it right?
SlashBeast

It's Johnny Depp in fucking eye-liner! It's not like Marshall's a left field choice.
Underscore

Read the script. The storyline suggests a new trilogy. And al the characters are new, except for Jack and Barbossa. But Barbossa's changed! Great strong plot, nice plot twists. Great character development. Cool mythological ideas. I don't know if he's right for it but it's somewhere in-between 1 & 2 in terms of tonality and feel.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

underscore, where get to read the script from???. I would love to read it too!!!. Can you tell where to find it on the internet, if thats where you read it???. I had absolutely no i dea that the writers of the potc franchise have already taken it out of being under wraps!, "sorta speak".
Al

His visual eye is astounding. I don't care if he usually does musicals, this is gonna rock.
L

I am one of the lucky few that liked all 3 movies. Im just glad orlando bloom got progressively better. They could do some sort of theme branching from the ending of the third movie. I guess well wait and see but johnny depp hasnt attached himself to anything crappy in awhile... Whoops, public enenmies was garbage.
http://www.chelariu.de Paul

Mr. Depp is in the moment the best Artis, but I finde Sweeney Todd better than PotK
giraffic

Just bring back Johnny Depp and I could care less who directs. Maybe.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

giraffic, i agree with you there with what you said, 100% percent!!!!!. Hopefully rob marshall, will do as good as gore verbinski did on the first three pirates movies, or hopefully better, if thats possible!.
http://www.consumeu.com Patrick

The first three movies were great I can't wait to see what they do with the fourth. I agree with giraffic, Johnny Depp is really the main element that will make or break this film.
http://bellsouth.net Sean

Well, what about bringing back geoffrey rush as barbossa, and bill nighy as davy jones, or just geoffrey rush as barbossa???.