Pirate's Booty: New Johnny Depp Film Boasts Lots of Loot on eBay

By Addie Strong
May 23, 2011

Four years ago, the last “Pirates” movie, “At World’s End,” was dubbed “At Wits' End” by disillusioned moviegoers who were fed up with the film’s two hour and 49 minute run-time. In the years since, Disney has worked hard to revive the struggling series by making some major overhauls, and fans seem eager to give the franchise another shot: Total sales on eBay online auctions for listings with “Pirates of the Caribbean” are up 10 percent in the past 90 days compared to the prior period as movie goers stock up on "Pirates of the Caribbean" costumes, posters and other paraphernalia from the previous films and the new edition, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," which opened this past weekend.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Captain Jack Sparrow (actor Johnny Depp) and Angelica (actress Penelope Cruz)

The first major adjustment Disney made? The latest (and shorter) "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie has a new director at its helm. Movie director Rob Marshall—who oversaw the productions of “Chicago,” Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Nine”—was seen as an unlikely choice given that his previous films have all been musicals. It was, however, his skills in directing choreography that reportedly attracted Disney to the new director. “He understands movement and how action could be done in a different and fresh way,” producer Jerry Bruckheimer told the New York Times.

Meanwhile, "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Rob Marshall was more interested in the script because of a fresh new swashbuckler named Angelica, played by actress Penelope Cruz. “Because there’s a new female pirate in this film that goes toe-to-toe with Jack [played famously by Johnny Depp], that brings out all new colors for Jack, too,” Rob Marshall told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It really felt like a fresh beginning, and I could find my way in.”

In keeping with this theme of fresh starts, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” focuses on the pirates’ competition to locate the legendary Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz’s Angelica convinces ex-lover, Jack Sparrow, to join her in a race to find the elixir. And while Angelica and Jack Sparrow’s former romance ended on bad terms, they can’t seem to keep themselves away from one another—even if that means constant trickery and bickering. “I think the word ‘chemistry’ will change its definition after Johnny and Penelope do this film,” "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie director Rob Marshall jokes in a Disney promo.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide

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Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)
Photo Credit: Peter Mountain- copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush)
Blackbeard (Ian McShane)
Angelica (Penelope Cruz), Captain Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard

Pirate rookie Penelope Cruz impressed the filmmakers with her tenacity and talent despite announcing that she was pregnant while filming. Even on the red carpet of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" premiere, a glowing Penelope Cruz seems to have found her own version of the Fountain of Youth: Just four months after giving birth, her post-baby body is as sexy as ever, and she’s showing it off in curve-hugging gowns at the movie’s red carpet premieres.

In addition to Penelope Cruz, three new actors have been added to the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” installment. First is Ian McShane of HBO’s “Deadwood,” who plays the infamous Blackbeard and competes with Jack Sparrow to find the Fountain of Youth. Classically trained theater actor Sam Clafin appears in the expedition as a missionary, and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey plays the mermaid from whom they must acquire the tears needed to activate the famed potion. Still, two of the original series’ stars—Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley—are nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, Geoffrey Rush is back to reprise his role as the conniving Captain Barbossa. “The fact that the writers keep giving me all of these new transformational qualities, it just provides new stuff to play with, and I can discover just how evil or sometimes how idiotic he can be,” actor Geoffrey Rush told the British Telegraph of his decision to return to the franchise.

Similarly, Johnny Depp has been extremely outspoken about his desire to return to the role of Jack Sparrow for a future fifth time.

“I love that this is what I call an endless character,” he told Chicago’s Sun Times. “The possibilities are limitless.”

Check out the “Pirates of the Caribbean”-inspired loot we found on eBay online auctions—it’s sure to be a great investment, given this directive from Johnny Depp: “I don’t care if they have to carry me in and I do it on a walker,” he joked to the Sun Times. “My dreads might get caught up in the wheels of my chair, but I’ll still fight to the end.”