| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co. has cleared the decks to launch a sequel to "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," after the movie struck box office treasure this past week, a studio spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
The spokeswoman said Disney's Nina Jacobson, president of the Buena Vista Motion Picture Group, is currently talking with writers Ted Elliot and Terry Rosso about story ideas and that a firm commitment to a sequel would depend on the script that is eventually developed.
But it should not be too hard to come up with ideas. In interviews last month to promote the film, Elliot told reporters he had plenty more material from which to draw.
"I've got two more stories to tell about (pirate captain) Jack Sparrow," Elliot said.
The movie, which was inspired by the Disney theme park ride "Pirates of the Caribbean," debuted to more than $46 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices last week, and pulled in a total of just over $70 million in its first five days.
The movie's cast, including Johnny Depp who portrays the fanciful and wily Sparrow, had agreed to make a sequel as part of their original contracts.
In interviews, Depp expressed a willingness to take part in a sequel and said making the movie was more than just fun.
"It was criminal. It was a blast," he said.
Other stars include Orlando Bloom as the young swordsmith named Will Turner whom Sparrow befriends, as well as Turner's love interest Elizabeth Swann, portrayed by Keira Knightley.
Geoffrey Rush played Sparrow's rival, Captain Barbossa. | |
