The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been a cash cow for Disney, having brought in nearly $4 billion worldwide for all four films.
After "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" managed to only pull in $241 million domestically—the lowest of all four films—it still managed just over $1 billion worldwide. Because of its overall take at the box office, you can bet Disney has been planning a fifth film.
The script for a fifth film was handed in back in May 2011, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Superstar actor Johnny Depp, also told The Hollywood Reporter he is "in no hurry" to reprise his role of Captain Jack Sparrow, despite already being signed on to play the famous on-screen pirate.
"We should hold off for a bit," Depp said. "[The movies] should be special, just like they are special to me.
Seeing as how Depp is the big draw of this franchise it appears Disney has been honoring his request, since no word of pre-production or a shooting schedule has been announced, yet.
Depp has earned a reported $350 million for his part in all four films, so you can bet when he's ready, Disney will be too and green light production immediately.
Money talks with this franchise and hopefully the script of the fifth film will be much better than the script of "On Stranger Tides" was.