As you would imagine, it’s no easy feat to add a character when filming has already ended, but directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg and producer Jerry Bruckheimer found a way to make it work. A reshoot reportedly wasn’t necessary, but they did have to add an extra scene to get the legendary musician some screen time. There’s no word yet on what the role is, but the fact that it was added so late in the game has definitely peaked our curiosity.
Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Written by Jeff Nathanson, it will again center on Captain Jack Sparrow (played by Depp). This time, he’ll seek the Trident of Poseidon to protect himself and others from an old rival, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), and his terrifying gang of ghost pirates. The film also brings back Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, and Stephen Graham as Scrum. Like McCartney, actors Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario will make their franchise debut.
McCartney isn’t the only iconic musician to appear in the popular pirate series. The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards previously played Captain Teague, Sparrow’s father, in the fourth movie, On Stranger Tides. His involvement was especially fitting considering that Depp drew inspiration for Sparrow’s mannerisms from the guitarist.
Even with the last-minute addition of McCartney, there is still plenty of time for the film to come together. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales isn’t due to hit theaters until May 26, 2017. Disney gave the film the Memorial Day weekend slot after pushing back Star Wars: Episode VIII.
