PIRATES POISED TO SWING INTO QLD

THE latest sequel of one of Hollywood’s most successful film franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean, will get a distinctly Aussie touch when it starts filming next year.

Queensland has won over Walt Disney Studio producers who plan to film the fifth instalment of the swashbuckling series at the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.

Pre-production has begun on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales which is set to become the largest feature film ever shot in Australia.

Filming will begin on the Gold Coast in February, which the state government says will inject $100 million into the local economy and create thousands of jobs.

Federal Minister for the Arts Senator George Brandis says the film also will significantly boost the local industry’s global reputation.

“The fifth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will focus the world’s attention on Australia as a leading film destination,” says Brandis.

“Our investment in attracting the film to Australia will result in substantial benefits for the screen industry and economy.”

Queensland Arts Minister Ian Walker says the most recent major productions to have filmed in Australia include San Andreas and Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, leading to jobs for more than 6000 local cast, crew, contractors and extras.

Dead Men Tell No Tales will exceed both these big-name productions in terms of expenditure.

The movie is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and will feature the return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, alongside a rumoured cast of returning stars including Orlando Bloom as Will Turner and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa.

The film is set for cinema release in 2017.