EXCLUSIVE: Jerry Bruckheimer on Completing A Trilogy with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Jerry Bruckheimer discusses the possibility of other Pirates films, as well as National Treasure 2 and Prince of Persia

With the amount of people calling themselves Producers in Hollywood the term seems to have been significantly diluted. However, there are very few successful producers whose name can solely describe a movie. When you say a "Bruckheimer Film" people instantly know what you are talking about.

Jerry Bruckheimer has produced some of the most successful films Hollywood has ever made. A modern day Irving Thalberg, Bruckheimer's credits read like a list of movies that have come to define cinema in the latter part of the 20th Century. Having produced all the films in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, this legendary Producer recently sat down with us to discuss the third film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

What was your biggest goal with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End?

Jerry Bruckheimer: To try and give completion to something we started five years ago.

Do you think with the internet and the other forms of press that its tougher for a director to make a trilogy of films than it was for George Lucas when he was making Star Wars in the 1970s? I say this because today you have people plotting the Director's every move.

Jerry Bruckheimer: Its difficult because there's so many rumors out there and lies. Some of its accurate, some of it isn't... we just try and keep people guessing all the time.

With the amount of integral characters that this story has did you find it hard trying to service them all in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End?

Jerry Bruckheimer: It always hard and you spend the most time trying to figure that stuff out. (Laughs) But Gore and Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio who wrote the screenplay, I thought they did a great job.

With everything that you have going on, your multiple CSI shows, how much were you on the set for this film? Was it every day or only when you were able to be?

Jerry Bruckheimer: As much as I could be. When they were in town I was there every day. When they were traveling I'd go for a week, I'd be gone for a week. I'd try to get there as much as my schedule would allow me.

Would you consider doing a Fourth Pirates film? Do you feel there are more adventures to tell with Captain Jack, Will and Elizabeth?

Jerry Bruckheimer: There's always more adventures... this is the end of the three; the standalone trilogy. So, we'll see what happens... there's a glimmer of hope at the end of the movie...

Yeah, after the credits...

Jerry Bruckheimer: (Laughs).

When you did The Curse of the Black Pearl, did you know there was going to be two other films?

Jerry Bruckheimer: No, no, it was always going to be one after the other. The success of the films led to the two other ones.

With Spider-Man 3 having recently shattered Dead Man's Chest box office record, is that something you think about on the eve of the release of At World's End? Or, is already shattering every record in one year enough for you?

Jerry Bruckheimer: Everybody wants to better themselves, certainly I like to. I don't think you can because when Spider-Man came on the market they were the only big movie. So all the multiplexes, every screen was Spider-Man. When we come on the market we've got Shrek and Spider-Man. So we'll get a third of what these films do.

Can you talk at all about National Treasure: Book of Secrets?

Jerry Bruckheimer: Yes, I can. Its really about the 18 pages that are missing out of John Wilkes Booth's diaries. That's all I can really tell you. Its based on history.

What about Prince of Persia?

Jerry Bruckheimer: Well, we're still working on the screenplay.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End sets sail in theaters May 25 from Walt Disney Pictures.