Rob Marshall is just about to take the helm of Disney’s fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film.  If he takes the job, it will put the film back on track for a 2010 start with Johnny Depp, once again, as Captain Jack Sparrow.

According to Disney, even though Marshall has not confirmed his commitment, things are looking pretty good.  So good in fact, the studio has begun casting new characters for the movie.  

The studio wants to solidify the production of the Pirates film so they can have Depp star in it before he does The Lone Ranger for them.  The Pirates franchise brings in a lot of money for Disney with the first three movies grossing $2.6 billion worldwide.

The fact that Marshall is even being considered the director for the fourth Pirates is a surprise, yet a turn that may take the franchise down a more refreshing voyage.  If anyone is familiar with Marshall’s work, a choreographer-turned-director, you know he made his feature directing debut with the Oscar-winning musical Chicago and followed by Memoirs of a Geisha, a film that underperformed at the box office, but I thought was well-crafted.  Of late, Marshall has returned to the musical genre with Nine, starring a stellar cast:  Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren.  Nine opens November 25, 2009, Thanksgiving weekend, by the Weinstein Co.

(Source)