Johnny Depp appeared as Captain Jack Sparrow in full 3D, sitting on the beach with a bottle of rum and speaking directly to the Comic-Con audience. He told everyone that it certainly wasn’t the case that he would soon be embarking on a quest to find the fountain of youth but that, even if he were, he wouldn’t be looking for a crew. But, if he did, would anyone in the audience be interested?

He promised that such an adventure would include “zombies, cutthroats, mermaids and… Penelope Cruz” and that it would be the kind of quest that would require “A bloody map. Or a bloody Mary. Or both.”

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will hit theaters on May 20, 2011.

Update: Watch the trailer on Youtube.

Source: Coming Soon

• First and foremost, one of my favorite couples, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem have gotten married! The longtime couple tied the knot earlier this month at a friend’s home in the Bahamas, Cruz’s rep confirmed to E! News July 13, 2010. The bride wore a gown designed by pal John Galliano and only family members were in attendance at the small ceremony. Warmest congratulations to the happy twosome! ♥

• Penélope Cruz is one of the 30 star Hollywood stars, who will immortalized with a signature star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. She, along with Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Will.i.am and The Muppets are the latest starred celebrities

• Penélope was photographed with a new tattoo early last month. The crucifix tattoo covers a large expanse of her right hand.

• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides News:
- Shooting has commenced for the film and the first images from the set of POTC have struck the net, none with Pe but still cool. To check them out go to: #1, #2, #3!

- Jerry Bruckheimer had this to say about Cruz’s Pirates character, who is not only his potential sweetheart but the daughter of his nemesis, Blackbeard (Ian McShane): “She’s so fiery and fun. I can just imagine how the screen is going to sizzle with the two of them on it.”

- A while back, Stephen Graham joined the cast. He will play a Sparrow sidekick, named ‘Scram’, this will be a reunion with Johnny Depp after they worked together on Public Enemies. Also added to the cast recently, Supermodel Gemma Ward as a talking mermaid (taking over the before mentioned Megan Fox rumored role)

I believe that about covers it. My apologies for the lack of posting these few months. My real life has been incredibly hectic. I will try to do better here but I don’t want to make any promises and jinx anything which seems to happen a lot, unfortunately! Trust me, I haven’t abandoned the site but there are some serious real life issues that have just been taking my priorities. Just please bare with me at times like this. – Webmaster

For more information on other country release dates, visit IMDb!

On the 9th day, May 20th, she also helped raise $333,000 for the earthquake-stricken nation of Haiti by auctioning off her designer dresses which aide the Jenkins-Penn Haitian relief organization. The Spanish actress stepped out in a gorgeous red wrap dress and silver shoes to mark the occasion. One celeb that really came up trump for the auction was Pe’s good friend, Salma Hayek who donated the first ever Gucci Couture dress, which she wore to day one of the Cannes film festival.

Although there is a good bit of paparazzi candids of her from Cannes, I obviously will not be posting these more intrusive ones as Penélope tried very hard at not being photographed so I wish to respect her privacy. I did however add a couple of shots I felt were okay.

Pe has now left France and is back in Madrid.

Also tonight, MakingOf.com hosts a Live Red Carpet Feed from the Sex and the City 2 premiere right here on Monday May 24th, 2010 at 6:00pm Edt.

I don’t think Pe will be attended since she was spotted in Madrid early this morning, but you can check out the premiere either way :)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still slated for release on May 20, 2011.

Source: ComingSoon.net

The 36-year-old Oscar-winner and her sister, 33, look stunning on the 100ft-high billboard above the Samantha Thavasa flagship store near Harajuku.

Another ad above the store shows Cruz with her latest handbag design for the trendy Japanese company.

Beyonce, Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez have all previously helped design bags for the label.

Director Michael Patrick King revealed that the Spanish beauty was offered a cameo in the film after she revealed she was a huge fan of the 2008 hit.

“It”s interesting because Penélope said to me, ”I”ve seen that first movie 15 times! I put it on when I want to feel happy and I put it on when I want to feel sad.” Penélope is a devoted follower of those girls and Mr. Big so I needed a part and I thought, ”Who better to play that part than Penélope?” the Daily Star quoted King as saying.

“But Penélope didn”t approach me – I went after her. She”s not playing herself whereas we also have Liza Minnelli who is playing herself and Miley Cyrus who also plays herself,” he added.

Source: Hindustan Times

Perhaps most devastating (at least from the perspective of a Pirates purist), is the news that the fourth installment of the franchise will not be shooting in the Caribbean (you know, like the title says) or Los Angeles. Those locations have been scrapped for the less expensive Hawaii and London. Perhaps the film should be renamed, Pirates of the Thames: Maybe We Can Also Use the ‘Lost’ Set. And for the crew hoping to get a tropical suntan — or perhaps acquire a Madonna-like accent — they’re out of luck: shooting has been cut down from 145 to a lean 90 days.

Like the Pirate predecessors, the fourth installment is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer — producer of films such as Armageddon and Top Gun — someone who isn’t necessarily used to budget cuts. The cuts stem from the new studio Chairman Rich Ross who has tightened the budgets considerably since taking over for former Chairman Dick Cook, who was fired from Disney in September of 2009.

Source: Yahoo! News

Cruz last worked with Castellito in the 2004 drama Don’t Move which did good business in Italy with over $10 million, but received a cold release in the states, making under $400,000 at the B.O.Don’t Move was also based on a novel by Mazzantini who happens to be Castellito’s wife. Though Castellito is still looking for partners to finance the film, he plans to start production in 2011.

Venuto al Mondo, which can be roughly translated as ‘brought into the world’, takes place during wartime torn Sarajevo during the Balkans 1990s conflict. Cruz’s role will be that of a mother who returns home with her adolescent son in search of their roots.

Venuto Al Mondo sold 600,000 copies in Italy and has also been released in Spain and France. The book will hit U.S. stores in 2011. The movie will be shot between Rome, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Croatia.

Cruz spoke about how she has remained friends with Castellito and Mazzantini since Don’t Move so when they sent her the Spanish translation of the book, which she read in one sitting, it left her enchanted. She just knew she had to do the film and tell the story to the world.

Source: One India

Today, Lancôme has announced that the Oscar-winning actress will be the new ambassadress for the company’s fragrance Trésor, starting later this year.

Currently, Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts are spokesmodels for the brand, I’m not sure what Penélope’s duties will be as a model or when her ads might start appearing but this is very exciting since her duties with Mango ended and I’m ready to see more regular Cruz ads, in addition to her L’Oréal stuff. Lancôme Paris is a luxury beauty brand. Owned by L’Oréal since 1964, Lancôme is part of the Luxury Products division, which offers skin care, fragrances, and makeup at higher-end price points.

After ending her involvement in Spider-Man film franchise, Kirsten Dunst has snatched another coveted role. She has just been tapped to play the major female character in Melancholia which is directed and written by Lars von Trier, so Deadline Hollywood mentioned.

Penélope Cruz was initially negotiating for the part, but she eventually dropped it allegedly to star opposite Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. There has been no further description on the character that now belongs to Dunst.

Production Weekly tweets that British actor Stephen Graham (Snatch, Gangs of New York and Baby Face Nelson in Public Enemies) has been cast as “Scram” in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Source: IGN and Ace Showbiz

Penélope Cruz guest-edited next month’s French Vogue, which has three different covers.

One cover sees modern day screen legends Penélope, Kate Winslet, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts. All the ladies are wearing (RED) clothing, designed to eliminate AIDS in Africa.

While on the other covers, she poses as the other half of Bono’s face, and finally, she toplessly embraces Meryl Streep.

I do not have access to this magazine but I’m hoping we will have scans soon. Please consider donating the other various Pe covers if you manage to obtain and scan them – it would be tremendously appreciated! I can’t wait to see the inside contents!

Region 1 Special Features include the following:
– Commentary with Director Rob Marshall and Producer John DeLuca
– 8 Featurettes
– 3 Music Videos
– Sophia Loren Remembers Cinecitta Studios (Blu-ray only)
– BD Exclusive: Screen Actors Guild Q&A (Blu-ray only)
– movieIQ+sync featuring the “Nine” Playlist and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie! (Blu-ray only)

Entertainment in Video has also announced the Region 2 DVD and Blu-ray release of Nine for the April 19, priced at around £19.99 and £24.99 respectively.

Region 2 Special Features include the following:
– The Incomparable Daniel Day Lewis Featurette
– The Women of Nine Featurette
– Director Rob Marshall Featurette
– Behind the Look of Nine Featurette
– The Dancers of Nine Featurette
– The Choreography of ‘Cinema Italiano’ Featurette
– The Choreography of ‘Be Italian’ Featurette
– Making of ‘Cinema Italiano’ Featurette
– ‘Take It All’ Music Video
– ‘Cinema Italiano’ Music Video
– ‘Unusual Way’ Music Video
– Sophia Loren Remembers Cinecitta Studios (BD Exclusive)
– Screen Actors Guild Q&A Session (BD Exclusive)

In February, we learned that both Ian McShane and Penélope Cruz were joining Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was reported that McShane would play the villain Blackbeard, but it wasn’t clear which role Cruz would take on.

In talking with MTV, producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Cruz is playing Blackbeard’s daughter. “She’s the daughter of the bad guy,” he said. You can expect “a little romance between Captain Jack and the new character that Penélope plays.” He said “she brings a lot of humor to it. And the fact that she’s so feisty.”

Bruckheimer added that Blackbeard is “the nastiest pirate ever.”

The producer also confirmed that Geoffrey Rush, who played Barbossa in the first three Pirates films, is indeed returning.

As for more roles to be cast, Bruckheimer said they they are “looking for some new kids to be in it, we’re testing right now.”

Asked how different this film will be, he said “we’re going to take a whole new direction,” but he did mention that “it is a continuation of what you saw last time, he’s in search for the Fountain of Youth.”

Source: Coming Soon

Update #1) Penélope Cruz was just spotted on the red carpet wearing a red dress and an up-do! She was briefly shown on E!’s Live Coverage.

Update #2) Penélope Cruz stood next to her Supporting Actress nominees for the official red carpet on ABC before the big show, where she was gracious and even said even though she’s been there multiple times, she didn’t feel like a vet, that it felt like the first time and when she didn’t speak any English. She also said she is “so happy and proud to be in company of these amazing actresses.”

Update #3) The first (tagged) photo of Pe is available on our twitter, here!

Update #4) Cruz just presented Best Actor in a Supporting Role to Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds. He opened his speech with “Penélope Cruz and an Oscar equals a Bingo.”

Update #5) Penélope is wearing a ravishing red Donna Karan couture duchess satin pleated gown, Chopard jewels and soft updo.

Update #6) The first pictures of our girl are being added to the gallery as we speak. Keep checking back for lots more coverage!

Update #7) Penélope shown in the audience.

Update #8) Not surprisingly, Mo’Nique won Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Pe was shown holding hands in the auidence with Javier Bardem.

Update #9) Penélope is carrying an Haute Couture Folies Clutch with a black strass Swarovski buckle and black stripped ostrich feather work by Roger Vivier.

Update #10) Cruz shown briefly in the audience during the Best Score dance performances.

Update #11) It’s a wrap! Pe didn’t attend any after parties.

Stay tuned for more Oscar updates. Not only is Cruz nominated but she will be presenting tonight as well.

It’s for The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special, which airs tonight (March 3, 2010) at 10-11PM ET on ABC.

I hope you all got a chance to see the 20/20 special, from last night, there was some adorable footage of Pe shown. I haven’t been able to find it online yet though, but fingers crossed someone will upload a video somewhere. If so, let me know!

The Hollywood Reporter says McShane will play the legendary pirate – whose real name was Edward Teach – who piloted the ship Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Johnny Depp will reprise his Captain Jack Sparrow role and Geoffrey Rush will return as Barbossa. THR also states Penélope Cruz will be “Jack Sparrow’s foil and equal in many ways,” (so very exciting!) in a tale that revolves around the Fountain of Youth – which was teased in the latest POTC installment: At World’s End (2007).

Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot wrote the script. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing.

Q: Johnny, we heard that there’s not going to be any Keira Knightley or Orlando Bloom in the next Pirates. Is it going to be more Jack Sparrow front and center?
Depp: Yeah, there’s no Keira or Orlando in there. I don’t know. I don’t think we’d ever throw too much Jack Sparrow in there. It’ll be everybody.

Q: You were sort of wavering a little after Dick Cook left. Have you regained your confidence about it or what reassured you?
Depp: One thing that I found very reassuring was a very good conversation with Dick Cook who is someone I admire greatly. That helped a lot. Also, knowing that we’re coming at it from a different angle at this point. [Director] Rob Marshall and a totally new take and a new story.

Hopefully we’ll be getting a lot of Pe’s character too! And I can’t wait to see Rob’s take on the franchise.

Penélope looks absolutely stunning in a ballet pink creation with lace overlay and jeweled shoulders. The dress was by L’Wren Scott Spring 2010 (seems to be one of her favorite designers of late) and it’s train was custom-made for Cruz. The back of the dress looks gorgeous! I especially love Pe’s straight hair and make-up here. She topped off her look with a silver clutch and heels.

The first photos have begun to arrive and I’ve started adding some to the gallery. Hopefully we’ll have more tomorrow.

It seems, according to El Pais, Penélope has renounced Melancholia in order to star in the fourth part of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie saga. The site notes that Cruz’s character in Melancholia (which was written specifically for her) requires no special physical effort, but her Pirates character would of course require special skills, which would mean months of training, especially in fencing. Producer Buenavista locks down it’s cast especially for this.

Discussion of Von Trier possibly moving its project to filming September occurred but a scheduled appointment with the Cannes Film Festival in 2011, which will premiere Melancholia, and shorten the post-production digital effects overruled it. The final decision regarding the Von Trier movie: filming in June in Sweden, with a budget of around four million euros and the French coast in May 2011. Without Cruz attached to headline. The role is to be partly re-written. No casting announcements have been made as of this report.

Although Pirates 4 was announced some months ago with only Johnny Depp to star it was just recently reported Rob Marshall, Cruz’s Nine director would helm the movie (taking over the Disney franchise from Gore Verbinski.) Pe made several quotes that would definitely love to do another musical or work with Rob again which doesn’t surprise that she was eager to work with him once again so soon.

So ultimately it seems that Cruz tried to juggle the schedules for both films, but was forced to focus exclusively on the Pirates movie which will be due to begin shooting in Hawaii this July, seeing Cruz as a female pirate! Caribbean veterans Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley will no longer participate in the franchise. It’s been reported that the script is being tweaked because the press found it weak.

I’m honestly not surprised by this and while I definitely would have been looking forward to the Lars von Trier film, I’m actually more excited by the thoughts of seeing Penélope in a huge movie (since she hasn’t been in one in a while) from I franchise I am a big fan of overall. I’m also a bit more biased to her working with Johnny Depp again because I became a fan of Pe’s with their 2001 film Blow.

I’ll continue to keep you posted on all the developments regarding Pirates because it seems pretty official now! Can’t wait! What are you thoughts? Are you disappointed by the Melancholia news or happy?

Penélope looked exquisite in a vintage Gianni Versace ivory column gown with vertical signature Gianni Versace zippers in the back of the dress. It’s nice to see something other than black which she’s been choosing a lot here lately.

I have updated the gallery with over x128 pictures from the festivities. Watch a video of her on the red carpet after the break.

Scheduled for a release on May 20, 2011, the fourth installment revolves around the Fountain of Youth. Depp is reprising the role of Captain Jack Sparrow and Cruz’s character is expected to be “Sparrow’s foil and equal in many ways.”

The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film was written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot. Shooting will take place in Hawaii this summer.

Cruz starred in Marshall’s last film, Nine.

To be honest given the source I’m trying not to get my hopes up about this one, but I think it would be a lot of fun and totally awesome to see Cruz working with one of my favorite actors, Johnny Depp again! Especially if Pe played a sassy strong female character against Captain Jack!

Update Feb. 11: Variety has confirmed that Pe is in talks for the 4th Pirates!

Budgeted at around E5 million ($7 million), English-lingo film is set for a European 2010 shoot. The title refers to Planet Melancholia, an enormous planet illustrated on the press release that looms threateningly close to Earth. “No more happy endings!” commented Lars von Trier, who will direct from his own screenplay. “As a disaster movie, Melancholia will use some special effects, but nothing compared to Hollywood,” exclaims Zentropa Entertainment co-founder Peter Aalbaek Jensen.

Personally, I think it sounds like a really cool idea given the director. I know Penélope is now being very choosy with her projects and this seems like it could be very time consuming, but with Lars von Trier claiming to make it ‘anti-hollywood’, sounds promising! Only time will tell if this becomes a sure thing. I’ll keep you posted.

“I am completely surprised and elated. Rob Marshall is not only a genius but an absolute joy to work with. I woke up every morning excited to collaborate with this amazingly talented group of actors. Filming this movie was such a special experience and to be nominated for this role makes me so happy.”

Source: Hitfix