Johnny Depp sent Paul McCartney a text for ‘Pirates’ cameo

“So we needed another rocker and on top of our list was Paul McCartney. And Johnny said, ‘Well, I have his number.’ And of course, Johnny has Paul McCartney’s number. So he started texting him. And it went back and forth. And then (Paul) said yes. So we were super happy,” Sandberg said. (Photo: Paul McCartney/ Facebook)

LOS ANGELES –”Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” co-director Espen Sandberg has revealed that Johnny Depp had asked Paul McCartney to make a cameo in the latest installment of the popular franchise via text message.

The makers were initially keen to take Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards to play a pirate rocker in the new sea- adventure movie but when he was unable to do the part, the team was thrilled to secure the Beatles star, reported USA Today.

“So we needed another rocker and on top of our list was Paul McCartney. And Johnny said, ‘Well, I have his number.’ And of course, Johnny has Paul McCartney’s number. So he started texting him. And it went back and forth. And then (Paul) said yes. So we were super happy,” Sandberg said.

Actor Orlando Bloom is also returning to the series as Will Turner, after leaving the franchise in 2011 “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”.