Disney has given “Pirates of the Caribbean 5” a July 7, 2017 release date.
The first four films in the franchise, which starred Johnny Depp and were produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, have scored a booty of $3.7 billion worldwide. The fifth film was originally to have been released on July 10, 2015, but Disney announced a delay in September. Studio insiders told TheWrap at the time they were hoping for a 2016 release.
Bruckheimer and Depp misfired on last summer’s “The Lone Ranger,” resulting in a $190 million write-down for Disney.
“Kon-Tiki” directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg inherited the “Pirates” franchise last year, but are spending this summer shooting the pilot for Netflix’s “Marco Polo” series. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos described it as one of the streaming services most ambitious projects on an earnings call Monday, as they are shooting in several countries across the globe.
Depp, who will be 54 by the time of the movie’s new release date, will reprise his role as Jack Sparrow, the temperamental captain who has led every film. The role earned him an Oscar nomination in 2004.
Disney will be handing a massive budget to two directors whose previous movie cost little to make and a star whose last few movies have tanked at the box office. But then again, how can you blame them given the global gross of the series?