Last month, after wrapping up filming On Stranger Tides, the fourth instalment of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the studio has been quietly requesting cast and crew to set aside a major block of time in the very near future, reports hitfix.com.
The producers are so confident in the franchise that they firmly believe it still has good days ahead. They are planning to film Pirates 5 and 6 all at once, as is becoming more popular with blockbuster franchises like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Twilight, in order to save money.
Pirates 2 and 3 were filmed at the same time under the direction of Gore Verbinski. The fourth was directed by Rob Marshall. It is uncertain whether Johnny Depp will be signing on again as Captain Jack Sparrow as he is already booked for 2011 projects Dark Shadows and The Lone Ranger.
Due for release May 20, 2011, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides also stars Ian McShane as the new villain, Blackbeard, while his daughter, and Depp’s love interest, is played Penelope Cruz.
Opening this Friday December 10, Johnny Depp will share the screen with Angelina Jolie in the highly anticipated movie The Tourist.