Warning: Very mild Paul McCartney related spoilers follow for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
You wouldn't think a movie about pirates would attract two of the greatest rock stars in the world, but who doesn't want to be a swashbuckling adventurer every now and again? Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and On Stranger Tides as Captain Jack Sparrow's father. However, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales will find Sir Paul McCartney donning the hat and eye make-up for a cameo of his own. Here's why the legendary Beatle ended up in Disney's latest blockbuster.
We had even written a scene for Keith [Richards]. And then because of some scheduling issues, he couldn't come to Australia to shoot, so we sat down with Johnny and kind of brainstormed, like, 'Okay, who could fill his shoes?' Because we felt like we should have something. We should honor the tradition of showing a Jack Sparrow family member. And we made a very short list, and of course, at the very top of that list was Sir Paul McCartney.
Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg told the tale of Paul McCartney's cameo to Entertainment Weekly, where the duo reveal that originally Keith Richards was supposed to reprise his role as Jack Sparrow's father. However, Richards' schedule wouldn't allow him to make the trip to Australia for filming. Still wanting to show a member of Jack's family, the directors brainstormed with Johnny Depp for candidates, with McCartney at the top of the list.
How do you get Paul McCartney into your movie? Just have Johnny Depp text him. Depp had the musician's number and the two exchanged a series of text messages that, according to the directors, got "more pirate-y" as it went on. McCartney agreed to be in the film, and those who see it this weekend shouldn't have a hard time spotting him. At one point in the film, Jack Sparrow is in a jail cell, where he comes face to face with another pirate prisoner (McCartney). He's playing a card game and singing a shanty to himself, and we quickly learn that this is Jack's uncle -- also named Jack.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales continues the story of Jack Sparrow and adventures at sea. This time he has an undead ghost pirate crew chasing after him, led by Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), as he searches for the mystical Trident of Poseidon. The film stars Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, and Kaya Scodelario.
You can catch Paul McCartney in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which is out in theaters now.
