Johnny Depp makes surprise visit to budding pirates

Johnny Depp swung back into his iconic Captain Jack Sparrow role Saturday at the Cannes premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth episode in the lucrative franchise.Three years after "At World's End", Sparrow embarks on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth while also trying to square his feelings for a mysterious woman from his past, Penelope Cruz's Angelica, essentially his female double.

Could Disney have done a little plundering of its own when coming up with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie franchise?

The latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" blockbuster has crossed the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, Disney said Tuesday -- only the eighth movie in history to do so.The fourth installment in the swashbuckling adventure franchise, starring Johnny Depp in his much-loved performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, passed the threshold on Saturday, said the statement.

The fourth installment in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series captured $90 million in box office treasures as Jack Sparrow's latest adventure debuted at number one, Sunday estimates said.In "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," Johnny Depp's character looks to get "savvy" with the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush and Ian McShane co-star in the Disney romp, which has earned mixed reviews from critics.The $90.1 million North American take was enough to knock "Thor" off its throne, according to estimates from industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

A school girl's letter requested Captain Jack Sparrow lead a mutiny against her teachers.

Liam Gallagher is hoping to cast Johnny Depp in the Beatles movie he is making.The former Oasis star is producing a film about the Fab Four's company Apple Corps, based on Richard DiLello's book "The Longest Cocktail Party".In an interview with Q magazine, Gallagher he said he would like "Pirates Of The Caribbean" star Depp to take a leading role.Gallagher, who fronts new band Beady Eye, wants the US actor to play Derek Taylor, the Beatles' long-time publicist.

Johnny Depp has been crowned "hat person of the year," beating out other celebrity hat-wearers including US singer Gwen Stefani and Australian actor Hugh Jackman, the US Headwear Association said Tuesday.Nearly four in 10 visitors to the Headwear Association's website voted in the annual poll for "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Depp and his wide-brimmed fedoras, helping him to roundly beat Stefani and Jackman who garnered 17 percent and 16 percent of votes cast, respectively.