USA: Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley are greeted by thousands of fans at the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" Disneyland premiere

Record ID: 537595

  • Title: USA: Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley are greeted by thousands of fans at the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" Disneyland premiere
  • Date: 29th June 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORLANDO BLOOM , WHO PORTRAYS WILL TURNER IN FILM, SAYING: "You can not make movies like this with out fans like that because you know when it is a huge movie you just hope they love it and go and see it. I had never been on this ride (at Disneyland) 'Pirates of the Caribbean' I had never done it until this time last year and suddenly I was like it i
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2006 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8IVCBZFCW1C521L9YDOGW0JR
  • Story Text: The cast of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" were greeted by thousands of screaming fans and other celebrities along the 2000-foot long red carpet in Disneyland at Anaheim, California on Saturday (June 24, 2006).
    "This is unbelievable. I have never been to anything like this in my life. I am never going to go out again as a matter of fact. This is it. This is the last time you will see me out at one of these things because everybody needs to pick up their game," actress Jennifer Love Hewitt told Reuters.
    The re-opening of the ride is to coincide with the July 7 U.S. release of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', the sequel to 2002's smash hit, 'The Curse of the Black Pearl', which has grossed more than 653 million U.S. dollars worldwide and turned Depp into a 20 million (USD) per movie man.
    Fans of Johnny Depp and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' are in for a treat when the Disneyland theme park ride reopens June 26 featuring Depp's likeness as Jack Sparrow.
    "This is of the greatest places in California to visit Disneyland. A great movie to bring your family to. We have friends involved with it so any occasion where we can come as a family is a great night," Maria Shriver told Reuters while her husband California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger singed autographs for fans.
    The ghostly image of Davy Jones, a new already-dead character from 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' played by Bill Nighy, is projected onto the ride's refurbished waterfall scene.
    "I am going to see the movie and then go on the ride. I am in the ride apparently I know that because I voiced my creature and halfway through voicing my creature I figured, oh my God, it's going to be there for about twenty years and I am going to be spooking generations of children for years to come," Nighy said.
    Visitors will be treated to bigger cannon explosions, more gold doubloons and an animatronic figure of Captain Jack Sparrow from the film franchise, originally inspired by the classic theme park attraction.
    Many of the original players have returned to the Gore Verbinski directed film including Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Depp.
    "You can not make movies like this with out fans like that because you know when it is a huge movie you just hope they love it and go and see it. I had never been on this ride (at Disneyland) 'Pirates of the Caribbean' I had never done it until this time last year and suddenly I was like it is such a part of the establishment. You can see how grandparents take their kids and fathers take their sons and you go well that is what it is about. Because I was kind of like 'Well what is the fuss about you know?' But it is is such a part of the history of the institution. Yes Johnny in it, and Geoffrey and Davey Jones it is awesome," Bloom, who portrays Will Turner, said on the red carpet.
    British actress Knightley was a virtual unknown when she starred in the first film but the 21 -year -old actress has since been nominated for an Oscar for her role in 'Pride and Prejudice'. The film made her a world renowned star but she said she still looks forward to a good old fashioned theme park ride.
    "I have been about three times because I got them to send me when I was doing the first film for research. I thought it was quite appropriate but I am very excited I am going to go rides tonight I can not wait," said Knightley wearing a white Chanel gown.
    Depp, Rush and Nighy all lent their voices to the ride's soundtrack, which is now piped in through 220 speakers and bass subwoofers strategically placed throughout the 14 1/2-minute-long attraction.
    For the past 18 months, more than 400 workers have been working in California and Florida (the Disney World version opens July 7) adding new video and lighting installations, digitally remastering the audio effects and adding more than 400,000 new gold coins and set pieces.
    750,000 gallons of water had to be drained and put back over the course of three days. Instead of the old storyline featuring pirates on a pillaging bender, riders will watch the same pirates trying to capture Jack Sparrow who is played by an animatronic figure modelled after Depp's heavily eye-pencilled film character.
    Depp, who received a Oscar nomination for his first portrayal of Jack Sparrows, based his character loosely on the famous Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards confirmed rumours that the musician may show up as Sparrows' father in the third instalment of the film.
    "Yes they are talking about it, " the 43- year- old actor said.
    Depp, who was recently was chosen by 'The Autograph Collector' magazine as the number one nicest autograph signer in Hollywood, said he liked the large events because they get him closer to his fans.
    "It is always kind of overwhelming you know. It is kind of nice to meet these people because these people came out to support us it is very touching," Depp told Reuters before going in to see the film.
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