Disney is taking its time with the upcoming fifth installment of its massively successful Pirates series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, hopefully because the studio recognized the need to reorient the franchise after 2011’s middling On Stranger Tides. We’ve heard from Orlando Bloom that the fivequel may act as a soft reboot, and that many new actors will board the franchise in major parts. Now, we’ve learned that Disney is zeroing in on The Maze Runner actress Kaya Scodelario for the lead female role.
Scodelario, who starred on the popular British series Skins before making the lead to blockbuster fare in last fall’s dystopian Maze Runner, is in early talks for the gig, according to Deadline. No details yet on who she will play outside of that the character will serve as a love interest for recently cast Brenton Thwaites, but Scodelario seems to have beat out the likes of Gabriella Wilde, Lucy Boynton, Jenna Thiam and Alexandra Dowling, all of whom made the studio’s shortlist last month.
The talented Brit certainly seems like a good fit for the Pirates franchise – she’s reminiscent of former franchise star Keira Knightley both physically and in that they share a homeland. What gave her the edge over her competitors was apparently better chemistry with Thwaites, and with Disney likely aiming to keep the pair in the mix for future films, that’s exciting news indeed.
Johnny Depp will reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the upcoming film, and other vets rumored to appear include Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Martin Klebba and Keith Richards. In addition to Scodelario and Thwaites, they’ll be joined by franchise newcomer Javier Bardem, who will take on the villainous role of Captain Brand, a fierce pirate who blames Jack for his brother’s death.
Kon-Tiki directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg will helm the pic, working with returning producer Jerry Bruckheimer from a script by Jeff Nathanson. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales sails into theaters on July 7th, 2017.
