Rupert Sanders and others on shortlist to direct 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5'

Lost in the thick of what is already shaping up to be a monstrous blockbuster 2015 for Disney is Pirates of the Caribbean 5, which has already been slated for that summer and has Jeff Nathanson working on the script. With Gore Verbinski out and Rob Marshall securing Johnny Depp for his adaptation of Into the Woods, the Mouse House is looking for other, less expensive options to take over the franchise.

A shortlist of contenders has emerged, and the biggest name in the mix is Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. Also in consideration are Fredrik Bond, director of The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, and the Kon-Tiki duo of Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. Rønning and Sandberg's film earned them an Oscar nomination, and Bond is said to be a particular favorite of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, but none of them have the Sanders' experience with big budget tentpoles.

With production set to begin either later this year or early next, expect a decision to be made shortly. Pirates of the Caribbean 5 will set sail on July 10th 2015. [Deadline]