PIRATES 5 Development Begins

Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) gets tangled up again with his ex Angelica (Penelope Cruz) in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which arrives May 20.

A month after it was revealed that Disney asked Pirates of the Caribbean stars to set aside a large chuck of time for back-to-back shoots with fifth and sixth adventures in mind, we have received word that development has officially launched for the fifth tale. Deadline NY reports franchise writer Terry Rossio has been enlisted to flesh out a story to follow the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and it seems that Rossio will be flying solo here. For the previous four films, he's had the help of writing partner Ted Elliot, who's sitting the next one out.

The report comes the same day that Entertainment Weekly reveals Johnny Depp as expressing interest in returning to his Jack Sparrow character for a fifth adventure as well. However, while the Rossio writing deal is set in stone, Depp and his busy schedule is merely entertaining the thought at the moment.


"As long as we can put all the puzzle pieces together, I would most definitely consider it," he says.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides sails into 3D/2D/IMAX theaters May 20, 2011 and stars Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Sam Claflin, Geoffrey Rush. Incoming helmer Rob Marshall led the direction based on a screenplay by Rossio and Elliot. Mania.com


Here's the recently-released trailer for the fourth tale.