Is This The New 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Plot?
Filed under: Disney, RumorMonger, Newsstand, Johnny Depp
So about that Disney announcement -- well, the one about Pirates of the Caribbean and its new title (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and release date (summer 2011). It just so happens that there is also a novel called On Stranger Tides about pirates by one Tim Powers (which we briefly mentioned in our other post). The plot is striking in that the main character is also named (or renamed) Jack, and the plot revolves around him finding the Fountain of Youth, which is not only a recurring theme in the Pirates movies but was the rumored title of the fourth installment.Here's the plot summary from Amazon via Publishers Weekly:
World Fantasy Award–winner Powers (Three Days to Never) demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives in this reprint of his rollicking and enchanting 1987 novel. Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole.So what do you think? Is this what we can expect come summer 2011? Or did Disney swipe this guy's title and ideas?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-11-2009 @ 6:36PM
Guybrush Threepwood said...
The whole franchise ripped off the book, but the book also has some elements from the original ride also. I'm more concerned with getting an actual On Stranger Tides movie proper.
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9-11-2009 @ 6:39PM
Zach said...
I'm pretty sure they mentioned the Fountain of Youth at the end or Pirates 3.
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9-11-2009 @ 10:14PM
Mervius said...
Great book. But like Guybrush suggests, it's too bad the novel can't get its very own full-blown big-screen adaptation. Of course then everybody would unfairly dismiss it as a Pirates of the Caribbean rip-off.
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9-12-2009 @ 9:48AM
Dan said...
I was really looking forward to an "On Stranger Tides" film someday in the future. Guess that's never happening. Thanks a lot Depp.
They better not screw this up like Pirates 3.
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10-28-2009 @ 5:13PM
Sarah said...
You are all a little behind. The author has confirmed that disney bought the right to his book a while ago. Of course the next movie will have parts of the book woven into it.
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11-06-2009 @ 9:32AM
John said...
I suspect that the movie will be in no way based on the book, but it has enough in common with the book that Disney figured it was cheaper to option the book and eliminate the risk of lawsuit than go ahead.
It's a shame there will never be an "On Stranger Tides" movie based on the book. Even if it includes elements of the book, the movie will probably be different enough in plot and characters (they have to include Jack Sparrow, right) that they can only take set pieces, such as the trip to the Fountain of Youth.
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