LOTS AND LOTS OF NEWS 😱...Fianlly!
Disney has really opened the floodgates for putting the Bahamas on the map as a top film production location by committing to shoot "more than 50 percent" of the movies Pirates of The Caribbean 2 and 3 in this nation.
The Tribune newspaper reports that Paul Quigley, one of three principals behind the $76 million dollar Gold Rock Creek Enterprises film studios being built in Grand Bahama, says his studio will be extensively used by Disney to shoot both movies, which have a combined budget of $400 million.
Mr. Quigley says Disney's decision to use the Bahamas was "wonderful" for both his production facitlity and for creating an indiginous Bahamian film industry.
Mr. Quigley said Disney executives, including Pirates of The Caribbean 2 and 3 director, Gore Verbinski, had been regular visitors to the Bahamas in the past two weeks, inspecting Gold Rock Creek's film studio location in Grand Bahama, looking at possible shooting locations in the Family Islands and holding meetings in Nassau.
One island in the Exuma chain has already been identified as a possible location for filming of the movies, the first of which starred Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly.
Mr. Quigley yesterday told the Tribune newspaper that Disney had already drawn up a production schedule for shooting Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3. This meant that Gold Rock Creek would have to "go gangbusters" to ensure its "shooting tanks" - the facilities where water-based and underwater scenes will be shot - are ready for the beginning of May, 2005, when Disney plans to commence filming in the Bahamas.
Craig Woods, the Bahamas Film Commissioner, previously said that this nation had barely scratched the surface of the film industry, despite After the Sunset and Into The Blue pumping a combined $20 million into the economy. Another film, Three, currently being filmed in Eleuthera, will bring an additional $940,000 into the economy.
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: "Dead Man's Chest" is a rumoured working title for the first of the two sequels.
I have had confirmation from the crew of the HMS Bounty, that she will be used in the next POTC movie.
It's been reported as a strong possibility. Now we can tell you definitely. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 will be shot at the same time - beginning late February in the Caribbean. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush are back aboard, with director Gore Verbinski at the helm.
Adding to the cast of characters in both sequels will be Tia Dalma, a jewelry-covered gypsy queen with tattoos, dreadlocks and clairvoyant powers. The role is being cast now, and, almost unheard-of in casting notices, word is she doesn't have to be beautiful.
With Finding Neverland in release and The Libertine and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory en route to screen, Depp's dance card would have been full even without the two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels. Among the projects Depp has ahead are the feature adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diaries and the true story of Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Bauby suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body in 1995, but he went on to communicate eloquently by blinking his left eye. Then there's the adaptation of Shantaram. Brad Pitt's and Jennifer Aniston's producing company spent $2 million to grab rights to the book for Warner Bros. - with Depp as its star.
thats awesome! i love the idea of the pirate girl with powers, i hope they make it really good though, like i hope it doesnt end up being gay! that would suck! but yah, johnny is super busy and im excited that hes making so many GOOD movies! cant wait 4 wonka! i think though, hes making so many right now becasuse he doesnt want to make movies anymore, omg! i hope its not true, but i have afeeling he doesnt want to anymore! well thanx 4 the news, will be looking forward to it!
Let me add to that info...on the Jerry Bruckheimer site there is a POTC 2 Casting hotline. I called firgured that it would be widespread...no such thing. There is only one open casting call, and it is in Hollywood, no where else, they are looking for adults, no one under the age of 18 may show up, they do not need children in this movie. And it will be called Treasures of the Lost Abyss...that is how the lady on the phone announced it, Pirates of the Caribbean: Treasures of the Lost Abyss. Here is the number I dare not lie if you don't believe me: 818-725-2905
Sorry to all of you who wanted to go, believe me I would try if they were close to me but since I live in the Boston area, there is no way for me to go...
Ok sorry about the off Topic thing...back on topic...Chow Yun Fat has been appraoched to be a Pirate Captain...and Jerry Bruckheimer is trying to get Geoffrey Rush to do the third on as well. Rupert (America's Favorite Survivor) from Survivor Pearl Islands has been appraoched to do a cameo...it depends on how he does on a screen test I guess (or something to that effect), and that's about it ladies and gentlemen.