Now, Powers is apparently free -- or at least more free -- to discuss Disney's ownership of the rights to his book, published in 1988. "About a week ago my agent wrote and said, 'You're now able to say that in fact Disney did option the book,'" Powers told the Los Angeles Times in an interview. "That happened a while ago, it'll be three years in April." Three years means that Disney picked up the rights just as "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" was sailing into theaters.

Clearly, there's been a plan for some time to pursue the Fountain of Youth plotline that was hinted at at the end of "At World's End." Questions regarding why its taken so long would be best answered by Disney, though my guess is it was a combination of talent availability and the changing economic climate. Even if the band could have been gotten back together sooner, it's reasonable to believe that the studio decided to wait for happier times before sinking into another $100+ million budgeted blockbuster.

Powers, for his part, couldn't be happier. "I'm thrilled. I think it's great," he said. And why not? Even with the specter of a Johnny Depp replacement looming for possible fifth and sixth outings, Jack Sparrow is confirmed for "Tides." There's also the fact that Powers' book is sure to experience a sales surge now that fans know the next "Pirates" movie will spring from it. Yeah... I'll bet he's thrilled.

There remains the question of how the novel will be adapted into the "Pirates" universe, since it was written long before Jack Sparrow and his pals had even been conceived. Powers has some thoughts there. "My main character doesn't overlap with Jack Sparrow at all [in personality or circumstance]; they're totally different characters. I suppose they might overlap the Geoffrey Rush character Barbossa and Blackbeard. The only thing I feel certain they will hold on to is the Fountain of Youth since they telegraphed that at the end of the last movie."

I agree with Powers' certainty, though I expect Disney intends to use more than just the Fountain from the book. After all, this is a well-established myth we're talking about. Why would the studio have paid for rights to the book if they didn't have specific ideas for incorporating the "Pirates" universe into it.

We'll find out eventually of course, but the wait is going to be a long one. "Summer 2011" is what Disney's announced. For now we'll just have to wait and wonder. And check out the rest of Powers' interview with the LA Times to see what more info can be gleaned.

Have you read Powers' book? What elements other than the Fountain of Youth do you think Disney might repurpose for "Pirates of the Caribbean"?

That apparently isn't stopping Disney though. According to a tip received by Cinema Blend, the studio is preparing to replace Depp if/when he decides to abandon ship. This may not happen with "On Stranger Tides," as Disney is likely prepared to offer him as much money as it takes to keep him aboard. The actor, who is said to be aware the last two movies "sucked," will definitely not be sticking around for the fifth and sixth installments if the tipster is to be believed.

Is this sad news for us Jack Sparrow lovers? Certainly, but I don't believe it's the end of the world for the "Pirates" franchise. Yes, Jack Sparrow -- and Depp's portrayal of him -- is terrific and hardly replaceable, but there are other wonderful actors out there who could at least steer the series on their own. And anyway, it might actually be refreshing to follow the adventures of another sort of pirate -- a character unlike (and therefore incomparable to) Sparrow.

The plot of "On Stranger Tides," which Geoffrey Rush claims may begin shooting next spring, could easily work as a changing of the guard.

It was widely believed until last week that "Tides"' story will come at least in part from Tim Powers' novel, "On Stranger Tides," which Disney owns the rights to. Powers confirmed last Monday that the fourth movie will "use elements" of the book.

Powers' novel involves a pirate's search for the Fountain of Youth. The story leaves room for a young newcomer, a character who aids the pirates in their search for the mythic location, to come aboard. While this could turn out to be Orlando Bloom's role in the next movie, it seems possible that Disney might use that character instead as a Sparrow replacement. Of course, the studio will need more than just a pretty face if they hope to rival -- and/or replace -- Depp's iconic pirate.

It's easy to be cynical and believe Disney would screw it up by casting someone like Zac Efron or Shia LaBeouf as the new lead. Just as nobody wants to see LaBeouf completely take over the "Indiana Jones" franchise -- yet -- without Harrison Ford, few of these sorts of rising stars are acceptable fill-ins for Depp.

However, I could see the following young men inventing an eccentric character worthy of captaining the series: James Franco; Ryan Gosling; Ben Whishaw; Anton Yelchin; and of course Robert Pattinson (more because of his Dali portrayal in "Little Ashes" than his "Twilight" vampire).

Who do you think could replace Johnny Depp as star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films? Is there any way you would stick with the series after Depp leaves? Is Disney wasting its time with its preparations?

Apparently we have Disney studio chief Dick Cook to partially thank for how great the "Pirates" franchise -- or at least the first film -- is. Now that Cook has resigned from the company (Disney denies he was fired), the series could be in jeopardy. Or, at least Depp's involvement with the films may be.

Depp has a bond with the exiting executive, claiming that it was Cook who convinced the star to sign on to the "Pirates" movies. Depp told the Los Angeles Times last week that Cook was the rare studio exec he could trust, and so he ended up agreeing to play Captain Jack Sparrow without even seeing a script.

Cook proved worthy of that trust during filming. Depp told the newspaper's Company Town blog, "when things went a little sideways on the first 'Pirates' movie and others at the studio were less than enthusiastic about my interpretation of the character, Dick was there from the first moment. He trusted me."

With Cook gone from Disney, Depp admits there's a "fissure, a crack" in his enthusiasm for the next installment of "Pirates," which we recently learned is titled "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and is set to open in Summer 2011. Depp isn't fully signed on for the sequel, as he's waiting to approve the script. Yet there's a chance he'll now view any submitted draft unacceptable as a result of his waning interest.

Depp isn't the only one disappointed by Cook's departure from Disney. In her exclusive report of Cook's exit, Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood claims Steven Spielberg is also upset, because he apparently brought DreamWorks into its deal with Disney thanks to Cook, whom the filmmaker "worships."

Of course, the effect on Depp is more of a concern. Just imagine Disney trying to go forward with the series either without the star or even with a less enthusiastic performance? There's no way the studio would go back to taking issue with Jack Sparrow's body language or appearance as portrayed by Depp, but there is the possibility of other disapproving notes brought to Depp by whomever replaces Cook. With that being the case, we might want to hope Depp does walk away and the franchise does close shop.

Do you hope Johnny Depp can regain his enthusiasm for the role? Would you rather the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series call it quits?

The news comes out of Disney's currently-underway D23 Expo. Apparently, "Pirates" star Johnny Depp came riding into the stadium on a pirate ship to announce the title.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." Summer 2011. Get pumped kids.

Of course, "Creation" just kicks things off. There's a whole weekend of indie madness to immerse yourself in. Sure, those of us who aren't fortunate enough to be in Toronto are going to have to wait. But there are some good flicks coming out of the fest, stuff that you're sure to see hit theaters in some form in the coming months. Here are a few of the highlights we have to look forward to...

"Precious"
Now here's one I've actually seen, earlier this year at Sundance. I can't say if anything other than the name has changed, but director Lee Daniels' adaptation of Sapphire's novel "Push" is first and foremost a difficult watch. It's also major league Oscar bait, especially with stellar performances from Mo'Nique and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the story in "Precious" follows Sidibe's Precious, an illiterate, pregnant teen from Harlem with an abusive mother and an equally abusive (but absent) father. You won't enjoy this movie, but that's not the point. It's an impressive piece of film.

"Capitalism: A Love Story"
It's fitting that Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" is arriving 20 years after his directorial debut, "Roger & Me." The earlier film's examination of how corporate dominance can adversely affect the lives of hard-working Americans is echoed perfectly in what sounds like a considerably more meta look at the situation. Moving from the microcosm of Flint, MI to big business epicenters in New York City and Washington, DC, expect yet another scathing commentary on the various breakdowns occurring in the world we live in. It's a potent topic, especially now as we struggle through the ongoing economic crisis.

"The Road"
I'm reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" right now and I've gotta say... I don't have a clue how it's going to work as a movie. Which isn't to say that it can't. There's certainly help, in the form of "The Proposition" director John Hillcoat and "Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, following a Man and his Boy as they struggle to survive amidst worries of dwindling food supplies and roving packs of cannibals. Don't expect a lot of action though; this is a quiet, reflective tale, desperate at times (most of the time, really) but relatively devoid of traditional spectacle.

"Up in the Air"
Of the picks on this list, "Up in the Air" is the one I know the least about. There's a lot of buzz and George Clooney is the leading man, so that's generally enough to make me curious. There's also the Jason Reitman factor, as the director is following up "Juno" with this one, off of a script he adapted from Walter Kim's novel. The story follows Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a divorced "career transition counselor" (ie he fires people) who jets around the country without ever spending much time in any one place. We'll see... the trailer certainly looks good.

"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
The big buzz surrounding "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" is, unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger's final screen performance. Me? I'm excited to finally see what looks like a return to form for director Terry Gilliam, the man who gave us the likes of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" and "Brazil." Between the weird, pulled-from-a-dream art design and the star-studded cast -- Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Tom Waits and more -- this is one that shouldn't be missed.

Besides, Burton has bigger "Shadows" concerns than that. "One of the biggest challenges on ['Dark Shadows'] is to just capture that weird tone of the show," he said. For now, the focus is on Burton's unfinished "Alice in Wonderland," which hits theaters in March 2010. As the director reveals in the video below, he hasn't even seen the Caterpillar yet! "Dark Shadows" will come, in due time. But first, we all need to take a trip down the rabbit hole.

Well, that's what we wondered too, which is why we're happy to present "Twilight:" 80's Edition! We've broken out the Adobe Photoshop and decided to cast our favorite "Twilight" characters if the film was made over twenty years ago. Instead of RPattz and KStew, fans could've easily been cheering on the romance of RPhoenix and ASheedy. Click here or on the photo below to browse our re-imagined photo gallery, and then click here to read why they made our new cast of characters.

Putting aside the cast -- which features Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer and Heath Ledger, in his final performance -- you've still got what looks like another delightfully twisted fantasy adventure, sort of like a cross between "12 Monkeys" and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." I know this because a new trailer dropped over the weekend. Now you can know it too.

Well, according to a report in Variety, that’s what is gonna happen: Rob Marshall is set to assume directing duties for the fourth "Pirates." Hey, it could be an inspired choice or a demented one—who’s to say at this point? So let’s take a look at some reasons why Marshall’s “Pirates” might rock or why it instead might stink, er, sink.

The Geisha Factor: No one knows in which direction the fourth film will go. But star Johnny Depp has got a nifty idea for his Jack Sparrow character, and it might be a perfect fit for Marshall, whose second film was “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

“It could be anything at this point," Depp said during a recent press roundtable. “Jack Sparrow could be in some kind of geisha clothing.”

Rob, are ya listening?

Sing Us A Song: Every once in a while, Jack or another character, adrift on land or sea, likes to break into song: “Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum” or something a little less of an arrrr-ye-mateys cliché. And—come on—that theme song is all sorts of awesome. So does Marshall's talent for seamlessly integrating music into a film qualify him to handle the franchise? Nope. But it sure doesn’t hurt.

We’ve Been There Before: “Chicago” is based on a musical from the ‘70s. “Geisha” is based on a best-selling 1997 novel by Arthur Golden. Marshall seems to have no problem picking up someone else’s work and, at the very least, not screwing it up. Has he ever stepped into a franchise that has grossed $2.6 billion over three movies? No, but how many folks out there have?

Action? What Action?: This is where we get worried. Can Marshall guide the sword fights, the ship-vs.-ship battles, the explosions—all that freaking action that made the three “Pirate” films so much fun? This will be the big question for franchise fans. The answer won't arrive until the movie does.

Character, Character, Character: Marshall may not have already displayed his Verbinski-esque facility with action, but any director worth his folding chair will tell you that story and action don’t mean a thing if the audience doesn't care about the characters swinging from ropes, dodging fiery cannon balls and otherwise risking life and limb on the high seas. In “Chicago,” Marshall made clear that he can make us worry about and root for murders and an amoral lawyer. A dreadlocked pirate and his adversaries shouldn’t prove too much of a challenge.

What do you think about the directing choice? Is there another director you would like to see take over for Verbinski?

That’s right: Tim Burton is making a vampire flick, and making one at time when the blood-suckers, from “Twilight” to “True Blood” to “The Vampire Diaries,” are experiencing a pop culture resurrection. How does Burton feel about joining the vampire zeitgeist? How will his “Shadows” stack up against “Twilight”?

“You can’t predict when something is going to become a phenomenon, and that’s the beauty of it,” he told MTV’s Josh Horowitz at Comic-Con.

Check out the video to hear Burton discuss “Harry Potter,” why entertainment phenomena are so hard to forecast, and who he wants to watch “Twilight” with one day.