The Australian government has approved a tax incentive deal worth a reported $US20.2 million with Disney, that will enable the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, to be filmed in Australia.
Disney had reportedly already received a tax incentive deal for the film 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, according to The Hollywood Reporter, but applied to transfer and boost the tax credit over to Pirates when 20,000 went into limbo after director David Fincher quit in July last year.
“The government is pleased to agree to Disney’s request to enable earlier funding to be re-purposed for the production of Pirates of the Caribbean 5,” a spokesman for Arts Minister George Brandis said. The Reporter claims the federal government’s offer still falls short of what Disney is asking for, with eyes now turned to the Queensland state government, where it is likely to be filmed, for further financial incentives.
If the Queensland state government were to make an offer, and Disney decide to take it, the production of Pirates of the Caribbean 5 would be based at the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios as well as locations in the far north of the state.
Reports Fairfax, the purpose of tax concessions is to incentivise bringing large-scale productions to Australia, despite the burden of the high Australian dollar. Johnny Depp is set to reprise his lead role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 5, which is expected to be filmed in 2015 and released in 2017.
