"Pirates" Plundered by The Real Deal

Production on the sets of the two new "Pirates of the Caribbean" films has been halted due to raids by real-life "brigands," according to The Times Online. Though not sporting eye patches and wooden legs (at least not that we know of), thieves are wreaking havoc at the Grand Bahama island location.

Two cast members left the shoot fearing personal safety after a series of robberies, reps for Disney reported.

Walt Disney is producing two sequels to the 2003 film - an international smash hit that made more than $800 million world-wide. The film starred Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. All three actors will appear in the sequels. The films are being shot back-to-back in the Bahamas.

"We have had a slew of robberies on the actors who are working for "Pirates of the Caribbean" over at the Port Lucaya resort. [The robbers] were able to get into the room with a key and stole everything from laptops, passports, checks and other equipment. The money they stole was actually the actors' paychecks," said Jason Kakebeen, head of location production.

The studio reported that some actors and crew members have been robbed four times in as many weeks. It also claims that more than $20,000 in cash and equipment has been stolen. The losses in cast and equipment have brought production to a standstill.

Filming on the sequels was due to be completed next month. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is scheduled for release July 2006. A teaser trailer was just released and can be viewed on the Movieweb site. The third installment of "Pirates" is slated for a 2007 release. -- Shannon Nolley

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