Capt. Jack Sparrow will buckle his swash for a fourth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Jerry Bruckheimer confirms.

"We've got a good jump on a story we're going to do," the producer tells the Sun when asked about continuing Sparrow's adventures beyond next summer's At Worlds End.

"We hope to (do more sequels)."

Clearly, any plans to leave Pirates a trilogy ended about the time July's Dead Man's Chest grossed a record-shattering US$132 million in its opening weekend, eventually crossing the $1 billion mark in worldwide box office.

Key to any Pirates 4, 5 or 6 is the participation of Johnny Depp, of course; fortunately for Bruckheimer and Co., Depp has publicly stated he'd be up for more high-seas action.

The third episode will bow in May during an impossibly competitive month that also sees Spider-Man 3 and Shrek The Third premiere.

(Reports Orlando Bloom would be killed off in the third instalment have been officially denied, although one has to wonder how much longer Bloom wants to play second mate to an over-the-top Depp.)

Joining Depp, Bloom and Keira Knightley in At Worlds End -- which is still shooting -- are Chow Yun Fat (as Capt. Sao Feng) and, in a cameo, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

"He was great to be with. He didn't want to leave; he was having the best time," Bruckheimer says.

Is his head OK after he fell out of a tree in Fiji?

"Apparently."