By now it is well known that Johnny Depp modeled his woozy but winning, sunstruck but savvy, hirsute and bangled Pirates of the Caribbean character, Captain Jack Sparrow, on swashbuckling rock 'n' roller Keith Richards - a man who deftly wields his guitar like a saber, his sinewy frame festooned with scarves and beads.
Richards, whose countenance wavers between vacant stare and raffish twinkle, seems a leathery buccaneer shipwrecked in a century not to his liking, swigging rum and scaling coconut trees betwixt the cerulean sky and the vasty deep.
Following a failed connection for the second Pirates film Dead Man's Chest, which opens tomorrow across the U.S., Depp announced Tuesday in London that Richards, 62, is lined up to play Captain Jack's piratical father in the third iteration of the salty saga, which is scheduled to resume filming next month in California and is due out in 2007.
"We're all looking forward to the idea of Keith coming in and doing a cameo," Depp told a London news conference. "You never say it's definite until the guy steps on the set and the camera is rolling. But it's looking very, very good."
Co-star Orlando Bloom made reference to Richards' notorious Fiji tree accident, which resulted in brain surgery on the guitarist and the postponement of the Rolling Stones' European tour (now scheduled to begin July 11 in Milan). "I can't wait to see him - well, if he doesn't kill himself falling out of coconut trees," Bloom said. "Very rock and roll."
Another bit of interesting Pirates news slipped out at the London news conference: series producer Jerry Bruckheimer said, "We are hoping to continue the series of films. Audiences seem to love it and we love making it, so hopefully we will get the same team back together again to make another one."
And in the real world, characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean films have been added into the swashbuckling Magic Kingdom attraction of the same name. In the updated ride, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa race each other through the familiar scenes of surprisingly lusty rapaciousness to claim a cache of plundered treasure.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
the real question is: can Richards play this character without a cigarette hanging out the side of his face?
2 - Eric Olsen
and will he be able to dress down enough for the part?
3 - Nancy
Richards actually looks old enough to play Depp's grandfather. Guess that's what swashbuckling will do to a man.
4 - Brent
Buckling a swash is exhausting work that ages a man beyond his years ... but if you do it like Errol Flynn its a hell of a way to go.
5 - Eric Olsen
At 62, he is 19 years older than Depp, 43. So yes about the swashbuckling!
6 - Dawn
You sir, are a tasty writer. Delicious!!
7 - Eric Olsen
thanks Dawn - if you can't be nutritious, then at least be tasty!
8 - Allie
WHY!! i can't wait t'ill 2007!! What's with barbosa? what is going to happen with Jack? what is that guy going to do with davy jonses heart? how will jack's father fit into the story? why did elizabeth kiss jack? sooooooo many questions I need anwers but i have to wait until may 2007 Kiera said if she told what was going to happen in the third movie she'd have to kill the person so tell me! i know she wouldn't be able to kill me just lock me up or something!!
9 - carlos rodriguez
can't wait for keef to be in "potc,at worlds end" He's the bloody right choice.When elizabeth kissed jack sparrow,It almost made me blush,being a pirate meself.And why is the rum always gone?
thanks love,carlos
10 - anisa
i really cannot wait for the 3rd pirates of the caribbean to come out!! i think johnny depp plays the part of captin jack sparrow amazingly well! and orlando 'n' keira look fab!
11 - adam berto
I think the enemy in the third movie is able to fly.they covered land in the first movie water in the second now air.
12 - walt wig
johnny depp is an awesome actor. he has played in 31 different movies
13 - Nancy
Fun article, Eric. Personally I didn't enjoy DMC as much as I did the first movie, & didn't think it was as good - perhaps because I was familiar with the characters so there was less delighted surprise at the quirkiness of it all. Somehow, for me, the less dramatic scene of the 'undead' pirates stolling along underwater in #1 was far more effective than all the special effects of the kraken & cosmetics in #2. Ah well. I do look forward to seeing Richards in #3, tho. Lord, he does look more like Sparrow's grandfather than father, I agree, but I guess all that drinking & drugging & counting your millions does take it out of you...wish it was me, in that case. I could stand looking 900 years old if I had the same money, I guess.
A question, since I've never actually bothered seeing Richards either on film or in person: is Depp's portrayal accurate or exaggerated?
14 - gemma
JOHNNY DEPP IS THE BEST... i just cant wait for pirates 3 to come out in the cinemas im gunna try to get tickets to see it the first day it comes out!!!!!!!!!!! x x x x
15 - gemma peck
JOHNNY ***** IS ******* THE ****** BEST *****
I MAINLY ONLY WACTH PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN CUZ HE'S IN IT X X X X X IV WATCHED THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL 19 TIMES AND DEAD MANS CHEST 5 TIMES. THATS ALL I EVER WATCH.
16 - thunderfromtheeast
its a bunch of crap jack's image comes from ray milan's role in "4 of the apocalypse"
17 - Kams
"why did elizabeth kiss jack?"
To distract him while she locked him to the mast, so the Kraken would take Jack, and leave everyone else (mainly Will and Elizabeth) alone.
18 - Zandy
It can be both ways maybe half of her self likes him but other side likes Will because she knows Will , will be loyal to her.
Yet Jack has his fun side that I'm gueseing that attracts Elizabeth.
I will say Elizabeth is..two face..like the wind.
She would be perfect as a starsign Libra.
19 - Zandy
I just want to say the movie 3 is coming to New Zealand at 24th so people at America I will see it before u...OH YEAH..........
20 - Zandy
Here I draw this Captain Jack Sparrow picture it take me half hour.
[Personal contact info deleted]
Thankyou
Zandy!
21 - lenny
Keith RIchards is AWSOME
22 - rea
keith is REALLY old... so many wrinkles...
23 - lilshady
does any one know about the third movie
24 - lilshady
sry i mean the 4th movie