Pirates embark on new adventure

Disney has said a new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film is on the horizon.

Johnny Depp sailed onstage on a pirate ship at the Anaheim Convention Centre to help announce the forthcoming instalment of Disney’s blockbuster film franchise.

He was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation.

Depp will reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides', slated for summer of 2011. The new film will be the fourth in the series.

Dressed as Sparrow, Depp staggered around the stage and embraced Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook, who announced the news to about 5,000 fans on hand for the D23 Expo, Disney’s answer to Comic-Con.

In his presentation of upcoming Disney films, Mr Cook also announced that Depp would play Tonto in an upcoming big-screen adaptation of 'The Lone Ranger'.