'Pirates 4' Filming in Hawaii This Summer

OK...remember when Disney was moving ahead with a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie and insisted that the only way it could really work was to tone it down and make a less expensive movie? Gone are Knightley and Bloom so the focus could be more where it belongs, on Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. In keeping with that theme, Coming Soon reports that Pirates: On Stranger Tides will shoot in Hawaii. Isn't that expensive? Well, sure, it's expensive to haul a crew around anywhere, but with a 15 - 20% tax break, that's better than Disney making this...well, in the Caribbean. Granted, it's not like shooting in Louisiana or New Mexico, but it's also not like shooting in Louisiana or New Mexico, if you catch my drift. They're very adaptable but I don't think Santa Fe would make a convincing Caribbean. Governor Linda Lingle released a statement touting that the Aloha State will host the film, bringing in roughly $85 million to Hawaii's coffers and opening up countless jobs, which is one of the great things about location shooting. Kaua'i and Oahu will be the primary sites for On Stranger Tides. The other big announcement in all of this goes hand-in-hand with setting a location, and that's when Pirates will shoot. Looks like it's this summer, barring some unforeseen events. That keeps the film on pace for summer 2011, when it will open on May 20th.