A few months back, Javier Bardem was a contender for the role of Blackbeard in Joe Wright's PAN, an origin film tracing the development of Captain Hook and Peter Pan. While that role eventually went to Hugh Jackman, it looks like Bardem may get to play a scurvy pirate after all. The Wrap is reporting that the Oscar-winner is in talks to play the villain in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.
The fifth PIRATES movie is set to begin filming in Australia early next year. Bardem would play a ghost named Captain Brand who believes Jack Sparrow is responsible for the death of his brother and is seeking revenge. Christoph Waltz was previously rumored for the role.
Bardem has appeared as a villain most recently in Sam Mendes' SKYFALL. His last major role was in Ridley Scott's critically panned THE COUNSELOR. Bardem has great acting ability but also no fear when it comes to hamming it up for a role. Putting him opposite Johnny Depp would definitely increase my interest in the fifth film of the franchise. PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES already shook things up by signing KON-TIKI directors Espen Sandberg and Joachim Ronning and this casting would definitely be par for the course. Could Disney actually have a chance of turning in a good movie? Time will tell.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES is slated to hit theaters on July 7, 2017.