While Verbinski directed the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, he decided not to direct the fourth installment. He had a busy schedule with other projects and wasn't interested in the direction the franchise was taking.
Here are some reasons why Verbinski might have chosen not to direct Pirates 4:
* Creative Differences: Verbinski might have disagreed with the direction the story was going in.
* Over Saturation: He might have felt that the franchise had become over-saturated and was losing its magic.
* Other Projects: He might have been busy with other projects he wanted to focus on.
Ultimately, the decision was his, and the franchise continued without him.