Javier Bardem signed for next 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie

QUEENSLAND, Australia, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Javier Bardem's role as a villain in the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been confirmed as production for the movie kicks off.

Bardem has signed on to play Capt. Salazar, the leader of deadly ghost pirates causing problems for Johnny Depp's character, Capt. Jack Sparrow. Salazar has escaped from the Devil's Triangle and is on a quest to kill every pirate he can find, including Sparrow.

Production for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has begun in Queensland, Australia.

In addition to Bardem and Depp, Kaya Scodelario, Golshifteh Farahani and Brenton Thwaites star in the film. Returning to the franchise are Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs and Stephen Graham as Scrum.

Jerry Bruckheimer is producing, and Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are directing. Orlando Bloom is also rumored to be reprising his role as Will Turner.