Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the upcoming fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, set to be released on July 7, 2017 as the sequel to On Stranger Tides. It is directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The film will star Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow), Geoffrey Rush (Barbossa), Javier Bardem (Captain Salazar), Kevin McNally (Joshamee Gibbs), Stephen Graham (Scrum), Brenton Thwaites as Henry, Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth, Martin Klebba (Marty), and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner).

Pre-production for the film started in 2011, with Terry Rossio writing a script for the movie. In early 2013, Jeff Nathanson was hired to write a new script, with Depp being involved in Nathanson's writing process. Initially planned for a 2015 release, the movie was pushed back to 2016 and then 2017, due to script and budget issues. Principal photography started in Australia in February 2015, after the Australian government offered Disney $20 million of tax incentives.

Plot
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Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea... including him. Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.

Cast

 * Johnny Depp ... Jack Sparrow
 * Geoffrey Rush ... Barbossa
 * Kevin R. McNally ... Gibbs
 * Stephen Graham ... Scrum
 * Javier Bardem ... Captain Salazar
 * Kaya Scodelario ... Carina Smyth
 * Brenton Thwaites ... Henry
 * Golshifteh Farahani ... Unknown
 * Orlando Bloom ... Will Turner
 * Martin Klebba ... Marty
 * Adam Brown ... Unknown

Individuals

 * Jack Sparrow
 * Hector Barbossa
 * Joshamee Gibbs
 * Scrum
 * Salazar
 * Marty
 * Henry
 * Carina Smyth
 * Will Turner

Creatures

 * Horse
 * Whale
 * Monkey

Objects

 * Trident of Poseidon
 * Union Jack
 * Guillotine
 * Gallows

Locations

 * Devil's Triangle

Organizations and groups

 * Crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge
 * Royal Marines
 * Spanish Royal Navy

Ships

 * Black Pearl
 * Queen Anne's Revenge
 * Dying Gull
 * Salazar's ship

Development
Shortly before the release of On Stranger Tides, preparations were being made for Pirates of the Caribbean 5. When Entertainment Tonight reporter Mark Steines visited the On Stranger Tides set shot at the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot in summer 2010, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said, "if people show up for 4, we'll certainly try and do a 5. We're already working on a story, laid out some kind of interesting beats, things we’d like to see in 5. So that's where our writers are working." On December 3, 2010, HitFix reported that Disney began quietly telling the cast and crew of the fourth film to not occupy their time in the near future, as the studio intended to shoot a fifth and sixth film back-to-back. However, it had since been stated that only a fifth film was in the works.

On January 13, 2011, screenwriter Terry Rossio was confirmed to write the screenplay for the fifth installment, but without his writing partner, Ted Elliott. On May 2011, it was reported that Terry Rossio delivered the script for the fifth film to Disney executives, but the report was later debunked by Rossio himself. Johnny Depp said that he would be happy to return as Captain Jack Sparrow. After receiving positive responses at test screenings of On Stranger Tides, producer Jerry Bruckheimer indicated that the fifth film would be a stand-alone film.

On June 2011, it was reported that Disney has a wishlist of directors they would like to direct, as Rob Marshall has not yet accepted nor declined to direct. The list includes Tim Burton, Sam Raimi, Alfonso Cuarón, Shawn Levy, Chris Weitz, and original Pirates director Gore Verbinski. Verbinski and Burton were Disney's top choices as they have both worked with Disney and Johnny Depp on previous projects. On July 2011, Jerry Bruckheimer posted on Facebook that they had a draft and were working on the film. It was also reported that Johnny Depp was close to a deal for the fifth film. On October 2011, Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that they were in the outline phase, "We have a script, but we decided we could do better," implying that rewrites were underway. Bruckheimer later noted that Terry Rossio was doing his "usual phenomenal work" on the film's script. In an interview, Kevin McNally implied that a 2012 production start date was possible. Because of the financial success of On Stranger Tides, it was believed that Rob Marshall may return to direct. However, as of January 2012, Terry Rossio was still reworking the script, and that Rob Marshall and Johnny Depp were still not signed on.

On January 11, 2013, Jeff Nathanson had been hired to write the script for the film, though it is unclear whether or not Nathanson would be working from Terry Rossio's draft or if he'll be tackling the project as a page one rewrite. On January 14, Disney announced that Pirates of the Caribbean 5 would be released on July 10, 2015. On May 9, Deadline reported that Disney's short list of directors included Fredrik Bond, Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg, and Rupert Sanders. On May 29, Norwegian duo Rønning and Sandberg were confirmed to direct. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer stated that the duo's latest movie at the time, Kon-Tiki, convinced him that they were capable of directing. Rønning and Sandberg were interested in making the fifth Pirates so they settled in Hollywood and started working on it. Bruckheimer also said that the film would maintain the mixture of high seas adventure and supernatural horror and implied that part of the fifth installment may film in Louisiana, before quickly adding: "But it will also be set in the Caribbean, obviously."

On August 22, Rønning and Sandberg revealed that the film's title would be Dead Men Tell No Tales, alluding to the line well-known from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. The duo also confirmed that they begun work on the film, speaking highly of the script and that they were influenced by the first film, The Curse of the Black Pearl. "We have a great script that Jeff Nathanson has written," Sandberg said. "It's really funny and touching. We're really looking forward to realizing everything."

On September 10, 2013, it was reported that the film had been delayed beyond its initial 2015 release due to issues with the script, and that Jeff Nathanson was at work on a second attempt based on a well-received outline.

On March 18, 2014, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger stated that the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film has not yet been given the greenlight. On July 23, 2014, Disney announced that the film had been slated in a new release date of July 7, 2017.

On April 2014, Johnny Depp said in an interview that Bruckheimer and Disney had invited him in to collaborate with screenwriter Jeff Nathanson to bring a "fresh and very different" Pirates film, implying that it might be the last one in the series. Depp was quoted in saying:
 * Everyone involved wants the script to be right and perfect. So we have gone on to do other things (in the meantime). We are still going to do the film together. I enjoy them immensely. They are super talented. They have a great sense of humor. I think they have a really fun approach to what we are going to do with the next 'Pirates.' Very happily and proudly, I have welcomed taking part in the story and working directly with the screenwriter (Jeff Nathanson)—he and I. It's working out really well that way. So I have high hopes for that 'Pirates 5' because if that's really the last one, which it probably is, I feel that we owe it to the audience who went and saw the films so many times. We'll do it right and end it on a high note.

Later that month, Jerry Bruckheimer spoke about the fifth Pirates, "We're working on it, it's hopefully moving forward. Johnny is excited about it, obviously Disney is, we're excited about it. So hopefully we'll get that going this fall or end of the year if everything lines up properly." Bruckheimer declined to speculate about a sixth Pirates film, saying simply, "We make 'em one at a time."

Filming


In 2013, producer Jerry Bruckheimer implied that part of the fifth installment may film in Louisiana, before quickly adding: "But it will also be set in the Caribbean, obviously." On January 15, 2014, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg confirmed that shooting would start in Puerto Rico and New Orleans at the end of 2014. Bruckheimer previously mentioned that there might be a sequence in Louisiana, and Rønning and Sandberg were aboard the Sunset in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. As of June 2014, Bruckheimer stated a possible production start date of early 2015.

A spokesman for the Australian Arts Minister, George Brandis, confirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean 5 was set to shoot in Australia after the government agreed to repurpose $20 million of tax incentives originally intended for the remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. According to Australian film industry sources, pre-production started in late September 2014 and filming is expected to commence in February 2015. This was officially confirmed by Disney and the Queensland Arts Minister on October 2, 2014, stating that filming will take place exclusively in Australia, being the largest production to ever shoot in the country. Village Roadshow Studios and Port Douglas were officially confirmed as filming locations.

On January 1, 2015, the Rainbow Gypsy, a 15-year-old replica of an 1897 Scottish bawley sailed into the Gold Coast, Australia, to start the extensive refit, which included a new bowsprit and reconfigured decks and cabins in order to become the Dying Gull.

Casting
Johnny Depp said that he would be happy to return as Captain Jack Sparrow, saying "As long as we can put all the puzzle pieces together, I would most definitely consider it". Speaking at the fourth film's press launch in Cannes, Depp said he would play the role for as long as it was popular with the public. On August 2012, news surfaced that Johnny Depp reportedly signed on for a fifth film.

Geoffrey Rush had commented on returning as Hector Barbossa, saying "If they keep shapeshifting this character, absolutely" as well as implying he may return as the villain. Rush also said that Barbossa's megalomania "could explode in horrific ways." Though he had said that the script had to be in good shape before making the film, adding "You can't start shooting this sort of stuff, if there’s holes in it. But, as to when it will go, I know nothing." On December 2014, Rush confirmed his return, where his and Depp's characters were "at the heart of it and there's a whole new set of story lines." Rush also complimented producer Jerry Bruckheimer and praised the Norwegian directing team Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg.

When the topic came up of returning as Joshamee Gibbs in the pending sequel, Kevin McNally was philosophical, saying that Gibbs "could get eaten by some off-screen sea beast," while pointing out that he's not the one who decides if his character comes back or not. McNally continued in saying he does hope Mr. Gibbs is brought back, as he the character was a very useful device in "clarifying key plot points for the audience."

During the premiere of The Three Musketeers, Orlando Bloom said he would like to return to the Pirates franchise if he was offered. On September 2012, when asked on if she would return as Angelica, Penélope Cruz admitted that she had not heard anything or read a script. On October 2012, Keith Richards stated he had the costume, for Captain Teague, and that he's waiting for the heads up from his friend and co-star Johnny Depp. When asked if Richards would return, Bruckheimer responded, "I hope so. We'd love to have him back, so we'll see."

There had been several interviews with actors Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook  who both made statements about their return as Pintel and Ragetti. Crook also revealed that the film-makers had been in touch with his agent to discuss his availability, having previous called about appearing in On Stranger Tides, but it didn't happen as it was decided the film didn't need those characters, and made the assumption that the characters are being written back in the next film.

It was also reported that Disney are looking at young actors for the lead role of "Henry" with Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton, George MacKay, Brenton Thwaites, Mitchell Hope and Sam Keeley as candidates of the role. On November 21, 2014, Australian actor Brenton Thwaites was in discussions to appear in the film. On February 4, 2015, it was reported that Adam Brown, Delroy Atkinson and Danny Kirrane have joined the film's cast.

Promotional
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Trivia

 * This would be the first POTC film that was written without Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. Since before the release of On Stranger Tides in 2011, Rossio had done some work on the film's script, but was later replaced by Jeff Nathanson in 2013.
 * As of February 2015, Executive Producer Mike Stenson and EP/Writer Terry Rossio are no longer associated with the Pirates franchise. Despite this, for unknown reasons, their names appear to be listed under Pirates of the Caribbean 5 on Rossio's website, Wordplayer.
 * This will be the first film to not have Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann) to star along both Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow) and Orlando Bloom (William Turner Jr.).