Orlando Bloom Media - News Archives

April News 2006

POTC 2 previews
posted by Jas, 04/30/06
Previews of POTC: Dead Man's Chest from various sources

From Newsweek
Three years ago, almost everyone predicted that "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" would be a cheesy also-ran in the big summer box-office race. Pirate movies had tanked for years. Johnny Depp had never had a real hit. Worst of all, it was based on a Disney theme-park ride. It just had to sink, right? Yeah. Like "Titanic." It not only raked in a massive $654 million worldwide but was a rollicking pleasure cruise that had the whole country yo-ho-ho-ing. We'd rather walk the plank than miss this sequel. (Or the third one, which will be released next summer.)

Depp returns as the louche Capt. Jack Sparrow, who owes his soul to undersea captain Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), with his octopus beard, crab-claw arm and half-human/half-crustacean crew. On the eve of their wedding, Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) get yanked back into the shenanigans, and pretty soon they're seeking the spiritual guidance of a red-eyed, dreadlocked Gypsy queen (Naomie Harris), and Captain Jack is being served—à la carte, no less—to an island of cannibals. We're betting he's going to be delicious. July 7

From The Observer
Mitchell's own studio, Disney, is perhaps looking at the biggest hit of all with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest. The film does, however, represent one of the year's biggest gambles, being the most expensive film in Disney's history. For Mitchell and his colleagues at the House of Mouse, failure is not an option. 'The first Pirates film was a gamble,' he says. 'Privately, we all thought it was actually a bad idea and its success surprised us. But now Keira Knightley's a much bigger star, as is Orlando Bloom. Johnny Depp has always been a great actor but he had one of last year's highest-grossing films in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so he's now a proven box-office draw too.'

Arrrr Eww ready for a spoiler-iffic look at "Dead Man's Chest"?
posted by Jas, 04/28/06
Jim Hill Media finally talks about the upcoming POTC: Dead Man's Chest. Spoilers ahead!

POTC 2 UK premiere
posted by Jas, 04/28/06
As always, the City of Westminster has just posted the date for the UK premiere of POTC: Dead Man's Chest, it will be on July 3 at the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square.

POTC 2 first look on ET
posted by Jas, 04/28/06
ET will have a first look at POTC: Dead Man's Chest soon, set that VCR and keep your eyes and ears opened.

Aaaaarrrr!!! It's the swashbuckling sequel you've been waiting for, mateys! Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are up to more piracy and lunacy in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,' and only ET has your very first look! Stay tuned for details!

In this sequel to 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,' which sails into theaters July 7, the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny) returns for more sea-borne adventures with pals Will Turner (Orlando) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira). This time around, Jack must settle a blood debt to the legendary Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), captain of the ghostly Flying Dutchman, or be cursed to an afterlife of eternal servitude and damnation! Of course, Jack's new predicament throws a serious wrench into the wedding plans of Will and Elizabeth, who must help their friend out of his latest supernatural jam!

Also returning for the fun is Geoffrey Rush as the boney Captain Barbossa, and director Gore Verbinski ('The Weather Man') is back to helm back-to-back sequels to the massive 2003 'Pirates' success. The franchise, which was inspired by the famous ride at Disneyland, amassed over $300 million at the domestic box office and earned Johnny an Oscar® nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role! Watch ET for more with Johnny and the cast of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'!

POTC 2 preview from USA Today
posted by Jas, 04/28/06
USA Today has a preview of summer movies including POTC: Dead Man's Chest

The plot: Captain Jack Sparrow, the ultimate scene-stealer from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, is back for more swaggering and staggering — this time taking on Davy Jones and his battalion ofzombie soldiers.
Why he may soar: This role in the 2003 blockbuster put Depp over the top. He was nominated for an Oscar, rare for a comedic performance. "I suspect Johnny Depp's second stab at this character will be equally triumphant," says Howard A. Rodman of USC's School of Cinema-Television. "His sly, fey kohl-eyed Keith Richards imitation found a large audience, particularly among young women, who seemed thrilled to be offered an alternative to the pumped-up, fast and furious swaggerings of more traditionally 'masculine' hunks."
Why he may crash: Will Captain Jack's posturing get old?

Orlando Bloom limited edition handprints
posted by Jas, 04/27/06
Celebrity Handprints informed me that they have released 250 Limited Edition Prints of Orlando's handprint based on an original he created in aid of the BBC Children in Need Appeal. These Limited Edition Prints of Orlando and other celebrities are now being sold in partnership with eBay and may be viewed here

POTC 2 Disneyland premiere confirmed
posted by Jas, 04/26/06
Calendar of Hollywood Events site confirmed that the US premiere of POTC: Dead Man's Chest will be at Disneyland on June 24.

Saturday, June 24, 2006 - time TBA
( Disneyland park will close early that day, at 5:00 PM ; those already inside the park will most likely be allowed to stay and watch the red carpet arrivals later on Main Street USA, but will not be admitted to the premiere itself. )

at Disneyland
1300 Harbor Drive, Anaheim, CA

Brad Pitt, Orlando in a new movie??
posted by Jas, 04/26/06
This has got to be a mistake, PR Newswire has a report on Opus 1 music library and mention this in the report.

Some of the great music supervisors Opus 1 has created custom works for include: Carter Armstrong, who secures music for Warner Bros. Features and is on the new Brad Pitt/Orlando Bloom film, "The Assassination of Jesse James"

In addition to Opus 1's body of television work, the company excels in feature film music, as well, including the previously mentioned upcoming Brad Pitt/Orlando Bloom big screen release, "The Assassination of Jesse James." Carter Armstrong, currently working on the project, sings Opus 1's praises. Armstrong says, "Opus 1 is an outstanding resource. The licensing service is top-notch, but the custom tracking has impressed me tremendously. They've turned amazing music around to me in record time and I appreciate them so much."

POTC sneak peek
posted by Jas, 04/26/06
June issue of Empire magazine (UK) will have a sneak preview of POTC: Dead Man's Chest

Hurray! It's nearly summer which means a veritable bounty of good-looking films to look forward to. As well as some rather sexy eye candy from the Pirates 2 set, we've got the goods from David Fincher's eagerly-anticipated Zodiac, junior spy adventure Stormbreaker, and twice the Latina loveliness as Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek team up in Bandidas, plus more. Ace

Meet the filmmaker of "The Armenian Genocide"
posted by Jas, 04/25/06
Line reports that the filmmaker of "The Armenian Genocide" documentary will be in Montreal on April 29 to talk about the documentary, here's the detail from Line.

Filmmaker Andrew Goldberg, who made the documentary "The Armenian Genocide," featuring stars like Orlando Bloom and Natalie Portman as narrators, will be in Montreal on Saturday, April 29, to show his film and to talk about the making of it. He will also sell DVDs of his film and field questions from the audience—so you could ask him all about why Orlando wanted to be a part of this project and what it was like to work with him. The event will take place at 7pm, at the AGBU Armenian Community Centre, at 805 Manoogian St., St-Laurent, Qc. (514-748-2428; www.agbumontreal.org).

Chance to go to POTC 2 junket
posted by Jas, 04/24/06
POTC: Dead Man's Chest now has it's own blog at MySpace and they are now having a contest where you can be the first to see the POTC 2 theatrical trailer in the form of a link and then spread it on the net. The lucky winner will also attend the film's press junket in June in Los Angeles and interview the cast as the correspondent for MySpace. All details here

5 new POTC 2 teaser trailers
posted by Jas, 04/24/06
Mo reports that JDR has an exclusive descriptions of 5 POTC: Dead Man's Chest teaser/trailers being shown this week in malls, airports, etc. to get people's response before being shown in theatres. Spoilers ahead!

Screenings of POTC 2 at El Capitan
posted by Jas, 04/24/06
Mouse Planet has details on the screenings of POTC: Dead Man's Chest at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood for annual pass holders.

Dead Man's Chest Contest: Will Turner
posted by Jas, 04/24/06
Zizzle is currently running a Dead Man's Chest Contest, the other day they released some new images of Jack, Pintel and Ragetti, today they have new images of Will Turner and his action figure

Pirates 2 preview from TIME
posted by Jas, 04/23/06
TIME magazine takes a look at the blockbuster movies this summer including POTC: Dead Man's Chest

Once in a while, a new member has to join the club; otherwise, there would be no movies to make sequels of. Three years ago, that film was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. It vaulted from prerelease shrug to summer smash, earning $305 million in North America and $652 million worldwide. So here comes the sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (opening July 7), which was shot at the same time as Pirates III, due out next summer.

For this double voyage, Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer re-enlisted the old crew: director Gore Verbinski, writer Terry Rossio and stars Johnny Depp (as scurvy Captain Jack), Orlando Bloom (the young hero, Will Turner) and Keira Knightley (Will's fiancé, Elizabeth Swann). They all seem pumped. "There's a kid inside most of the people on this crew," Verbinski says, "that gets juiced to get up in the morning and say, 'Hey, we're doing this.' This is the type of movie that says it's fun to go to the theater again."

The very notion of sequels might horrify Depp, Hollywood's best current example of dreamboat movie star and superserious character actor. "It's a dangerous game," he acknowledges. "Rocky went into almost Warholian levels of absurdity. But if your intentions are good and pure, then you can sort of skate through, make an interesting, entertaining film." His Captain Jack, the maniacally mannerist pirate, was plenty entertaining, to audiences and to Depp. "I truly love the character," he says, "and I didn't feel I'd had enough of him in the first one."

Or the second or third? Bruckheimer says he's going to save all the sets "in the hope that we can continue the series. If Disney will write us some checks, we'll do it." And if the star isn't bored by then, he jokes: "I'm teetering on the idea of a [Pirates] TV series."

Pirates 2 promo in Japan
posted by Jas, 04/20/06
Pam who is currently in Japan reports that Orlando, Johnny and Keira will visit Japan to promote Dead Man's Chest in either late June or early July, no date is set yet. According to this report from Yahoo Japan a special box set containing action figures of the four main cast and advance screening tickets will be released on April 29. Only 10,000 sets are available and it costs 7,000 yen each. Pam also said that POTC 2 promo in Taiwan has started, as soon as I have more info I'll post it. Thanks Pam. Update 04/23/06: Details about the sale of tickets for the advance screening and the action figures are now up at the official Japanese POTC 2 site. The movie will be released in Japan on July 22.

Pirates 2 preview
posted by Jas, 04/22/06
A preview of POTC: Dead Man's Chest from Entertainment Weekly

It's official: Pirates are the rock stars of the new millennium. ''I'm sitting on a barge in the Caribbean,'' says Orlando Bloom, calling from the set. He's back to reprise his role as the hapless Will Turner, who teams up with his future bride (Keira Knightley) to help the swaggering Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) fend off nemesis Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and his army of creepy undead soldiers. ''We've all got trailers [out here] and we're filming in that transparent turquoise water. It's quite glamorous.''

Even so, the globe-trotting back-to-back shoot of the two follow-ups to 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl has often felt more like a nerve-jangling plank walk for all involved. ''The size and scope is enormously ambitious,'' says producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who decided to shoot a Pirates twofer to avoid future scheduling nightmares with his increasingly Oscar-nominated cast. Bruckheimer's airtight plan sprang a leak once hurricane season hit the Caribbean during production last fall. ''I think every movie made is over budget and over schedule,'' Bruckheimer says. ''This picture had some weather problems. We had to take a hiatus early. But you make compromises and get it done.''

The filmmakers were dead set on amping up the realism, which meant more shooting on an actual boat docked just off the coast of the Bahamas. ''Somehow I thought it would be on soundstages, [but] most of it was on the water,'' says Naomie Harris (also in this month's Miami Vice), who plays a voodoo priestess. ''Loads of people got really sick. There were literally two people crawling on their hands and knees.'' But Bloom understood the necessity of the high jinks on the high seas. ''It's frustrating for everybody at different times,'' he says. ''But we're making a pirate movie, dude.''

Prediction for Pirates 2
posted by Jas, 04/22/06
ABC News predicts that POTC: Dead Man's Chest will bring in more than $300 million this summer.

Download Pirates 2 desktop
posted by Jas, 04/22/06
Trish reports that Disney site has an active desktop of Orlando, Johnny and Keira available for download (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

Bill Nighy talks Pirates
posted by Jas, 04/20/06
In a recent interview with Empire Online, Bill Nighy talks about his character as Davy Jones in Dead Man's Chest

First up, he was keen to elaborate on his appearance as Davy Jones – he of Davy Jones' Locker fame – in the eagerly-awaited sequels, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and the third in the series, Pirates Of The Caribbean 3: Insert Subtitle Here. Jokingly referring to himself and Stellan Skarsgard – who plays Bootstrap Bill Turner, the father of Orlando Bloom's Will Turner – as "the new boys", Nighy confirmed that his Jones will be very much the villain of the piece.

"I am a very, very, very, very bad man and I am there to make people suffer in all new ways, in ways that you won't have seen before," he smiled. And while he wouldn't clarify in which horrendous ways Jones would wreak this vile havoc, for fear of alerting producer Jerry Bruckheimer's crack spoiler-preventing SWAT team, he did admit that, "I have a boat and I have a crew, and they are really evil buggers."

More interestingly, though, is Nighy's revelation that although he'll be playing the part of Jones with – presumably – his usual blend of suave insouciance and regal mystery, he'll have a little help from his friends at ILM. "I'm so computer generated that you might have trouble spotting me. You'll know it's me, but you might have to check the credits afterwards," he laughed. "But they're cracking stories, they're great stories. If you liked the first one, you'll love this."

More new POTC 2 images
posted by Jas, 04/20/06
Zizzle has released their upcoming toyline for Dead Man's Chest and there's a contest on how you can win them, details are here (scroll down the page to see new images of Jack, Pintel and Ragetti)

Pirates 2 Ghost Ship Pics
posted by Jas, 04/20/06
IGN has two new images of what is believed to be the Flying Dutchman, the ghost ship captained by Davy Jones in POTC: Dead Man's Chest

PBS explores genocide of Armenians
posted by Jas, 04/17/06
The documentary, The Armenian Genocide, will be aired on PBS tonight at 10 pm. Historical narrations are provided by Orlando, Ed Harris, Natalie Portman and Laura Linney. Update 04/19/06: Orlando's segment is now available for download at Ka-Bloom

'Pirates' sequels to be filmed in AV
posted by Jas, 04/18/06
The AV Press report that portions of the two Pirates sequels will be filmed in Hangar 703 at 30th Street East and Avenue P.

A popular Disney movie franchise will soon be walking the plank at the former aircraft production hangar where Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" was filmed. The Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners on Monday approved a use permit for Second Mate Productions Inc. to film portions of two sequels to 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" in Hangar 703 at 30th Street East and Avenue P.

The production company plans to start a seven-month residence on May 1 at the Site 9 facility on Palmdale Regional Airport property, adjacent to Air Force Plant 42. According to the board's agenda, the project would generate about $616,400 in rental payments to LAWA. Second Mate Productions intends to use the 264,000-square-foot hangar "for various production and filming functions, including the construction of a film set," according to the agenda. The company will also use "40,000 square feet of the west half of the high bay area" in Site 9's Hangar 704. -- full report

New POTC 2 images
posted by Jas, 04/18/06
Ain't It Cool has two new images of Davey Jones' crew from Dead Man's Chest

Hollywood's summer preview
posted by Jas, 04/18/06
Preview of POTC: Dead Man's Chest and other Hollywood's summer release

Also returning to the water: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and director Gore Verbinski with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," the follow-up to their 2003 blockbuster. "Dead Man's Chest" has Depp's woozy pirate Jack Sparrow trying to weasel out of an old debt – his soul, which he owes to the sea devil Davy Jones.

Jack Davenport talks Pirates
posted by Jas, 04/17/06
TMCnet has an interview with Jack Davenport where he talks a little bit about filming POTC 2

He also found that filming for TV was much more rushed than for the big screen, revealing that one action sequence for the new Pirates Of The Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest, took a whole six months to film. And that level of perfectionism can get a little tiresome.

"It is a bit boring sometimes," he confesses about the blockbuster, which co-stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom. "But, to be honest, that's kind of what you get paid for in that sort of movie." Jack, who is married to Green Wing actress Michelle Gomez, will finally finish the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy in the autumn.

Bill Paxton talks Haven
posted by Jas, 04/15/06
DVD Talk has an interview with Bill Paxton where he talks about Haven, he's clearly not happy with the recut version saying he's never seen a film so butchered in his life and is really disappointed in the out come of the film that he's kind of staying out of it and won't have anything to do with publisizing it now. Download audio clip here (Haven's part only, right click and save)

Haven's review
posted by Jas, 04/14/06
Ain't It Cool has posted a fan's review of Haven. Spoilers ahead!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with MiraJeff who tells us of an ensemble flick with everybody from Bill Paxton to Orlando Bloom called HAVEN. The plot sounds very... involved and complicated. So, here's MiraJeff to explain to you the huge plot of HAVEN! Enjoy!

Greetings AICN, MiraJeff here with a look at the long-gestating Orlando Bloom film, Haven. Writer/Director Frank E. Flowers’ ensemble drama made the festival rounds back in 2004, but is only finding theatrical release this week. Reviews have been all over the board for this movie but personally, I’m glad to see it isn’t being given the direct-to-video release because really, it’s better than that really, although it’s certainly not anywhere near as good as Crash, the film it’s compared to in the press notes. (And yes, I loved Crash. Sue me. And please, bear with me through all the parenthesis, plural.) Like Crash, Haven is another non-linear Bob Yari production with an ensemble cast, although this film is set in the Cayman Islands, which are gorgeously shot by director of photography Michael Bernard and native Flowers.

Haven begins on Friday the 13th as a crooked American businessman named Carl (Bill Paxton) learns (via mystery fax) that the feds are onto him and his partner, the mysterious Mr. Allen (Stephen Dillane), whose son (Lee Ingleby) is best friends with Orlando Bloom’s character, providing further story linkage, as well as the film’s most awkward subplot. Anyways, Carl packs a bag for his daughter, Pippa, (Agnes Bruckner, channeling Jennie Garth) and hightails it out of the country as the feds (including Bobby Canavale) search his Miami residence for evidence of shady dealings. As soon as Carl gets to the Caymans, he has to immediately find the bank where his dirty money is hidden, since the island’s banks are closing left and right because of illegalities. Meanwhile, the flirtatious Pippa befriends an island native, Fritz (Victor Rasuk), who she finds sleeping in her new bungalow’s bed. When Pippa returns Fritz’s wallet to him later, he makes it his mission to be her personal guide on the island and show her a good time. Fritz takes Pippa to a party, but it’s not long before he’s spotted by some shady people and ditches her. When Fritz is finally caught, he wiggles off the hook by tipping the island’s gang leader Ritchie Rich (Razaaq Adoti) onto Carl, who Fritz saw with a lot of money taped to his stomach when he was picking up Pippa to go out.

The party Fritz and Pippa attend is where the first storyline intersects with the characters in the second, which takes place four months after the film’s flashbacks. This story involves one of the gang’s members, an ex-con rich kid name Hammer (a superb Anthony Mackie). Hammer is having a bad day because Shy (Orlando Bloom), the guy who is in love with his sister Andrea (Zoe Saldana), has finally reared his ugly (literally) head in public again since Hammer threw acid on his face because he thought Shy raped his sister. But when we first see Bloom and Saldana, they’re swimming in the blue-green waters of the Caribbean just off an idyllic beach shore that’s out of sight of her father’s armed boat. She looks just like a young Thandie Newton, absolutely gorgeous. His single mother is her teacher and her wealthy father (Robert Wisdom) is his boss. We also get a bit of back-story explaining Shy’s nickname, which he earned when he stopped talking for five years after his father, a fisherman, was murdered.

Unfortunately, the acid incident forever alters their relationship and while Shy chooses to hide his scarred face and shun her and his loyal sidekick Kimo (a solid Mpho Koaho), she spirals out of control, becoming a junkie whore who tells one guy to just “take me somewhere and fuck the shit out of me.” When Shy witnesses her behavior for himself in a bathroom at the party, it sets something off inside of him, and when Hammer basically tells him that he would rather his sister be a whore than live happily ever after with Shy. He’d rather see his sister waste her life on drugs than on a white, working-class island boy like Shy, who responds with an act of violence that inevitably forces him to turn his back on the only place he’s ever called home and set sail on a boat appropriately named Destiny. Although this love triangle is the heart of the film, it feels like it belongs in a different movie, or at least one that has more time to devote to the proper development of its story. Instead, lumped in with the Paxton story, it feels like a potpourri of ideas, a hodge-podge/mish-mash/whatever-you-wanna-call-it that mostly works, but stumbles at times under the weight of its own self-importance.

The acting all around was pretty impressive, especially Orlando Bloom, who wasn’t a whiny pussy for once. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven him for Elizabethtown yet. Elsewhere, Paxton’s character falls out of the film for long stretches of time and besides convincingly acting paranoid, he kind of sleepwalks through the role. It looks like he was saving his stronger work for Big Love, which is doing a commendable job of filling the Six Feet Under void for me. In supporting roles, Joy Bryant plays Mr. Allen’s seductive and secretive assistant and Jake Weber is a scary local sheriff who knocks some sense into the mischievous Fritz. Although the scene, which is set in a Laundromat, feels out of place, it is nonetheless effective, as Weber warns him that “if you run with assholes you come out smelling like shit.” After beating the boy with a baton, Weber snaps, calling Fritz “a white-washed wanna-be American.”

Of the rest of the cast, Mackie and Rasuk really stand out. Rasuk has come a long way since the days of Raising Victor Vargas and he makes Fritz a street-smart punk who we actually care about. He has a unique energy that really seems to capture the atmosphere of the Caymans. I forgot how much I liked him as Tony Alva in Lords of Dogtown. Even still, the best performance in Haven is Mackie’s. He’s an actor who I’ve noticed before and consider a rising star. He was Papa Doc in 8 Mile, the cocky boxer Morgan Freeman knocks out in Million Dollar Baby, a gang member with a conscience in Spike Lee’s underappreciated Sucker Free City, and most recently shined in Ryan Fleck’s Half Nelson which I saw this past weekend and thought was fantastic. There’s something about Mackie’s unexplained and unrestrained anger here that really makes his commanding performance standout. He’s certainly an actor to watch.

Flowers’ debut features some strong writing and visuals, but aside from some cool time-lapse effects, the editing is all over the place and some unnecessary flashbacks interrupt the flow of the narrative, which is more difficult than it has to be to understand. I mean, this movie isn’t rocket science folks. Overall I have to give it credit for being a stylish character piece that is rarely predictable and features a very good score. It’s fairly compelling and engrossing for the most part and Flowers seems to be a promising filmmaker with an ear for dialogue and an international eye. Haven is definitely worth the trip, if only to see Orlando Bloom looking like a young Freddy Krueger.

That’ll do it for me, folks. The Tribeca Film Festival will be opening its doors any day now, so keep your eyes peeled for fresh updates from NYC. ‘Til next time, this is MiraJeff signing off…

Pirates products
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
Check out the POTC: DMC products like books and posters at Amazon.com

Targeted release date for Haven
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
Just got word from Jan who just got a confirmation from the Yari Film Group regarding the release of Haven, they are now targeting a release date of September 15. Keep in mind that this date is not written in stone, but it's what they're shooting for. Thanks Jan.

Pirates 3 in theatres May 25
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
According to business report from Hollywood Reporter, the third Pirates installment will be released on May 25

Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" sails into theaters May 25, the start of the four day Memorial Day holiday weekend. The first film in the franchise, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," opened July 9, 2003 to $46.6 million and wound up doing over $305 million. The second episode, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," opens this July 7 and is expected to be one of this summer's biggest hits. This third episode is directed by Gore Verbinski, director of the first two blockbusters. Having shot the third one along with the second, Disney now has a tremendous advantage in being able to have its "Pirates" franchise return to theaters as early as next summer. -- Full report

Orlando wax model
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
The Guardian has a report on a new exhibition at Blackpool's Louis Tussaud's museum which has a wax model of Orlando among other celebrities

The new waxworks, whose number also includes the likes of Angelina Jolie, are dotted around a Las Vegas-style casino which allows visitors to get up close and personal with the models for the first time. One of the first celebs I see on entering is Sean Penn, standing next to a gambling table; a member of staff explains that it's supposed to be Liverpool footballing legend Ian Rush.

Nearby is a peculiar model of a reclining Victoria Beckham wearing what looks like a cut-up pair of net curtains - surely not from the real Posh's wardrobe. A little girl, clearly overcome by the stellar cast, rushes over and pleads with her dad to take a picture of her next to David Beckham, who is sitting on a pink couch. The family erupts into an argument about whether or not it is David Beckham. In fact, it's Orlando Bloom. The museum's next exciting attraction will be a model of Johnny Depp. Or should that be Ryan Giggs? -- Full report

Scans from POTC 2 book
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
Jan has posted scans of images from kids' novelization of Dead Man's Chest. Spoilers ahead!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Captain's Log, Vol. 1
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
IGN has a report and images from the PSP version of Dead Man's Chest

Pirates 3 in theatres May 25
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
According to business report from Hollywood Reporter, the third Pirates installment will be released on May 25

Orlando wax model
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
The Guardian has a report on a new exhibition at Blackpool's Louis Tussaud's museum which has a wax model of Orlando among other celebrities

Scans from POTC 2 book
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
Jan has posted scans of images from kids' novelization of Dead Man's Chest

Pirates of the Caribbean: Captain's Log, Vol. 1
posted by Jas, 04/12/06
IGN has a report and images from the PSP version of Dead Man's Chest

Cathy Come Home remake
posted by Jas, 04/10/06
Another mention about the remake of Cathy Come Home

Orlando Bloom and Colin Firth are expected to star in a new TV adaptation of hard-hitting 1966 film Cathy Come Home. The new BBC version is to mark the 40th anniversary of the original Ken Loach movie, which pricked Britain's conscience regarding the issue of homelessness. A spokeswoman says, "It feels timely to look at poverty and inequality in Britain today."

'Click Spot' on TRL
posted by Jas, 04/10/06
MTV will air the ONE campaign on TRL tonight

ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History announced today the MTV broadcast premiere of its new campaign to reach and engage millions of Americans in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty.

"The "ONE Click Spot" will air as part of an MTV News report during the highly-popular "Total Request Live" on Monday, April 10 and stars some of the biggest names in music and Hollywood, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews, Coldplay, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Orlando Bloom, Heidi Klum, Salma Hayek, Jewel, 50 Cent and Bono. In the spot, each clicks their fingers to show that every three seconds, a child dies of AIDS and extreme poverty-and that millions of Americans have the power to come together as ONE and save lives in Africa and the world's poorest countries.

The :30 spots in support of ONE will continue to roll out across MTV, MTV2, MTVU and MTV Overdrive, inviting viewers to visit http://WWW.ONE.ORG to learn more about the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty and what they and America can do to help create hope and opportunity for the world's poorest people. -- Full press release

KOH Director's cut review
posted by Jas, 04/09/06
Mo attended the screening of Kingdom Heaven Director's cut and has posted her review here. Spoilers ahead!

'Caribbean' cast bond during long shoot
posted by Jas, 04/09/06
Pirate Mackenzie Crook said that the cast of the Pirates of the Caribbean have become good friends after spending so much time together on location.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean stars have become mates thanks to spending so much time together on location, says Mackenzie Crook. Two sequels to the movie are being filmed in one go, so actors including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley have been together on a Caribbean island for quite a while.

"It's been an incredible and intense period of work," Office star Crook told The Sun. "It took so much longer than anyone could've expected." "We had no choice but to become good mates. When we're on location we're all living in each other's pockets," said the actor, who plays Raggetti in the films. "But we got to spend pretty much a year on a Caribbean island shooting them, so we've had an amazing time."

He told fans to expect more of his well-loved pirate antics, saying: "I'm still the same old Raggeti that you know and love. I don't run away with the heroine or anything, there's no romance for me." "But there's lots more eyeball gags," he added. "I've even got my own action figure now, it's what I've been working towards. I can die a happy man."

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is due in cinemas on July 7.

BBC to remake Cathy Shocker
posted by Jas, 04/09/06
Aniethen has typed an article from The Daily Mail - Mail on Sunday about a remake of a movie called Cathy Come Home, which said that Orlando is lined up to take part in the production. Details at Ka-Bloom

Looking to a blockbuster summer, one trailer at a time
posted by Jas, 04/09/06
A preview of POTC: Dead Man's Chest.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (July 7) - Johnny Depp looks like he's amusing himself. Keira Knightley looks lovely. Orlando Bloom looks ineffectual. In other words, everything's status quo. Anticipation factor: 5.

Dakota Fanning talks about Orlando
posted by Jas, 04/09/06
Dakota Fanning talks about the night she won her Critics Choice award

Heard in Beverly Hills: Before being honored by the Starlight Starbright Foundation at the Beverly Hilton, the adorable Dakota Fanning telling TEEN PEOPLE she's got a little thing for Orlando Bloom. "At my very first award show, they didn't have a step [for me], so he had to hold me up while I gave my acceptance speech," she says. "He was really sweet."

Video Download: Orlando at Toronto Film Festival - MSN
posted by Jas, 04/07/06
MSN has a video clip asking celebrities what they think of questions about their private lives, watch what Orlando has to say (there are also comments from Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley). Download Orlando's part only here

Keith Richards talks about Pirates sequels
posted by Jas, 04/06/06
The Age has an interview with the Rolling Stones and has Keith Richards talking about the Pirates sequels

Once Richards finishes this tour he's taking up an unlikely new hobby, acting. He's playing the father of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow - which Depp famously modelled on Richards - in the new Pirates of the Caribbean film. "Johnny Depp came over the other day with 3000 pirate costumes, which we tried on all day. I wanted to keep some tall boots. I think we're shooting in September," Richards says.

Video Download: Orlando at Swiss event
posted by Jas, 04/06/06
Orlando, Johnny Depp and Cate Blanchett attended an event by watch company IWC Schaffhausen in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Presse Portal and Hello magazine have a report and pictures. Loads of hi-res pics at Ka-Bloom. Watch video here or download here (Orlando's part only). Thanks to Will, here are two more clips from Blitz and Taff. Vids are also available for download at Elflady.com

POTC 3 title
posted by Jas, 04/06/06
Coming Soon reports that the POTC 3 title could indeed be "Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End"

KOH Director's cut review
posted by Jas, 04/06/06
Ambayuun has posted her review of the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut at the OL board. Spoilers ahead!

Summer's 10 Biggest Movies
posted by Jas, 04/04/06
MSN previews the 10 summer's biggest movies and POTC 2 is at the top of their list

1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Releasing: July 7
Estimated Take: $325 million
Why: There is a treasure trove of reasons. After "Superman," it's the last big blockbuster to hit theaters, and that gives it very little competition in the family-film market. Also, there is that little thing of audiences loving Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
What To Look For: More supernatural craziness and a special surprise that leads into the third "Pirates" movie.

Disney drops new trailers to Xbox 360
posted by Jas, 04/04/06
Punch Jump reports that Xbox 360 owners can now download three new movie trailers from Disney including POTC: Dead Man's Chest in high-definition via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Details here