After the mind-blowing success of the Pirates or the Caribbean trilogy, producers of course wanted to milk the franchise for even more money. Depp signed on for a fourth movie, with what was most likely the biggest paycheck of his career. And like all dying franchises, producers are bringing in even more talent in an attempt to widen the franchise appeal. Some brilliant would-be casting news from series: British comedian Russell Brand playing the long-lost brother of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)… which would mean Russell would also be the “son” of Keith Richards. Yep, that makes perfect sense.

The problem is that Russell is an in-demand actor. Brand spoke to Access Hollywood (quotes via Cinema Blend) about how he has “eight” other projects in the works, and he might not have time to play Johnny Depp’s brother. Here’s more from Cinema Blend:

Russell Brand, whom you probably know best as the brain-dead rocker who gets to bang Veronica Mars in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, has been heavily rumored to be a part of the upcoming fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Someone finally thought to ask him what he thought of being in a Johnny Depp Pirates movie.

Talking to Access Hollywood, Brand says, “I’ve got eight other things to do [including] ‘Get Him To The Greek’ with Judd Apatow… So I don’t know if there’ll be time to be a pirate, I’ve got enough of that in me private life.” Honestly that sounds like a good move to me. Sure another Pirates movie will make a lot of money… but it’s Judd Apatow. The guy makes movie stars out of thin air. Land a spot in one of his movies and there’s a damned good chance that you could end up as the next Seth Rogen. Let’s face it, Russell Brand is never going to be the next Orlando Bloom.

He’s not however discounting the possibility that he could end up in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He does confirm that it is at least a possibility and let’s face it, he’d make a pretty damn good pirate.

[From Cinema Blend]

Yes, Russell Brand will never be the next Orlando Bloom, and let me just say, thank God for that. One talent-less Orlando dirt-lip is enough. Russell would be interesting in a Pirates film, and I can totally see how he and Johnny Depp could be brothers. But what’s next? Amy Winehouse as the long-lost Sparrow sister? Now that would be brilliant casting.