In the world of film, nothing can get in the way of Captain Jack Sparrow, but it seems that in real life something will. Animal rights group are fighting against monkeys being imported for the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Accorrding to ABC, animal tights groups are urging the government to deny the importation of two capuchin monkeys to film the fifth installment of the franchise. The four groups who raised their concerns were: Humane Society International Australia, Wild Futures, Born Free Foundation and Captive Animals Protection Society.
The four groups are preventing the use of monkeys for filming in Australia. A report cited by IBTimes, said that Campaigns Officerof Wild Future had said that producers of the film should consider using modern technology than using wild animals. The reports added that they are worried for these monkeys because they have "complex physical and psychological needs".
The Capuchin monkeys will play "Jack the monkey" the pet of Geoffrey Rush who plays Captain Barbossa. Barbossa in the film is often seen with his pet monkey hanging around his shoulders.
The Federal Environment Minister of Australia, Greg Hunt is said to consider on whether to allow the monkeys to enter Australia for the filming in Gold Coast. However, reports from The Guardian stated that Disney and Bruckheimer, the producers of the franchise, have already applied for a permit to bring the male and female monkeys to Australia.
On the permit sent to the Department of Environment, the assessment states that the monkeys will be arriving on Queensland on March 9 and will be take to a facility in Gold Coast specifically built for the monkeys with a "secure mesh and steel enclosures within a fence compound".
Meanwhile, as the producers solved the problem in importing the monkeys, they have also released an official synopsis for the film which includes Captain Jack Sparrow's conquest on finding yet another treasure to save himself.
The 51-year old actor, Johnny Depp, will still play the role of the legendary Captain Sparrow. Along with his return is also Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamme Gibbs, Stephen Graham as Scrum, and the franchise's newcomer, Javier Bardem who will play Sparrow's nemesis on the film.
The fifth installment of the blockbuster franchise is expected to fill theater seats on the summer of 2017.
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