2015 will be one huge year for the Disney company. In addition to two Pixar films, The Avengers 2 and Star Wars: Episode VII, the entertainment company will release Pirates of the Caribbean 5. The film has gone without a director for quite some time, and it almost seemed like it wouldn’t make its tentative July 10, 2015 release.

Now, Deadline is reporting that Kon-Tiki directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are signed on to direct next installment, written by Jeff Nathanson.

Johnny Depp will reprise his role as the infamous Jack Sparrow, and Jerry Bruckheimer also returns to produce. The two directors were among the top names on a short list of filmmakers to direct the film. At one point Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall was in line to direct the fifth film, before he signed on to direct Into The Woods for Disney, which also happens to star Depp. The Necessary Death Of Charlie Countryman helmer Fredrik Bond and Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders were also in the running to direct the film.

Expect to hear of some Pirates 5 questions being asked during the press rounds for Disney’s The Lone Ranger.

Filming for Pirates 5 is scheduled to begin later this year or early January.

What do you think about Disney bringing in some unknowns to direct a film for a very successful franchise?

[Source: Deadline]