Gore Verbinski quits Pirates

Gore Verbinski will not return for “Pirates of the Caribbean 4”

After spending six years directing the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, Gore  Verbinski has quit the franchise.


The director informed Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer that he will not helm a fourth installment that’s expected to set sail in 2010 with Johnny Depp back as Captain Jack Sparrow.


“I had a fantastic time bringing ‘Pirates’ to life, and I am eternally grateful to Jerry, Johnny and the rest of the creative and production team,” Verbinski said. “I’m looking forward to all of us crossing paths again in the future.”


Verbinski will now focus on other
projects that include “Bioshock,” an adaptation of
the bestselling vidgame that has a John Logan script and is likely to
be Verbinski’s next film as a director.


He is also working with Depp on “Rango,” a CG-animated film for with Depp voicing the title character. Logan wrote the script.