POTC 4 Needs a New Director

According to Variety, "It's no longer a pirate's life for Gore Verbinski.

After spending the better part of the last six years directing the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy, which grossed $2.6 billion worldwide, Verbinski has 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.

Sequel is in development but not yet greenlit. It's unknown how Verbinski's ankling will affect the pic's schedule.

Verbinski will instead focus on other projects that include 'Bioshock,' a Universal Pictures adaptation of the bestselling video game that has a John Logan script and is likely to be Verbinski's next film as a director.

'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.'"

That pretty much sums up this bit of news. Verbinski is moving on and a fresh perspective will be brought to eh "Pirates" franchise.

"Pirates of the Caribbean 4" will reportedly be about Sparrow (Johnny Depp) meeting up with Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in the newly-founded New Orleans, where they embark on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Rush is interested in returning as is Bill Nighy, who played the evil, tentacle-faced Davy Jones (though I don't know how that will work out, didn't he die?).

More news to come! Catch ya' later!