The Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle confirmed with Disney that “Pirates of the Carribean 4” will begin shooting this summer. See the exclusive story below.

Kev

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HONOLULU — Hawai‘i will be the location for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” the fourth installment of the highly successful Walt Disney Pictures’ action adventure film series starring Johnny Depp, according to a news release Monday from the governor’s office.

The Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger met with Gov. Linda Lingle on Friday to share the news that the islands of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu will be sites for the production of the feature film, which will begin shooting this summer and is slated to be released in summer 2011.

The production is expected to generate an estimated $85 million in direct and indirect spending in Hawai‘i, providing a needed economic boost for the state’s economy as well as creating hundreds of jobs for local residents, the release states.

“Disney’s long-term commitment to Hawai‘i — from ABC’s ‘LOST’ to the new Disney resort on O‘ahu scheduled to open in 2011, and now the upcoming filming of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ — is a testament to the company’s confidence in our state as a great place to do business,“ Lingle said.

“The Walt Disney Company has a great relationship with Hawai‘i that we’re looking forward to building upon with the filming of the latest adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew,” said Iger.

“We’ve always sought out the most extraordinary and exotic locations for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ films,” said producer Jerry Bruckheimer, “and previously shot briefly on both Maui and Moloka‘i for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.’ Hawai‘i provides an amazing range of both land and seascapes, and we’re delighted to return for ‘On Stranger Tides.’”

The state’s Creative Industries Division and the Hawai‘i Film Office, which are housed in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, began working with Disney last year and organized a series of meetings and conference calls to help secure the business.

Georja Skinner, the state’s Creative Industries Division administrator who oversees operations of the Hawai‘i Film Office, worked collaboratively with the governor’s office, Department of Taxation and Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert, along with Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the Kaua‘i Film Office, the City and County’s Honolulu Film Office, The Resort Group, Ko Olina Resort and Disney Vacation Club to help secure “Pirates of the Caribbean” for Hawai‘i.

“Hawai‘i competes on a global basis for productions and to have Disney choose Hawai‘i over other states and countries is a huge win for us,” said Skinner. “Creative industries are by nature collaborative and what I think made a difference for us is the combination of our tax incentive as well as local film, travel and destination industry support.”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” joins a list of feature film and television productions slated to film in Hawai‘i this year. Warner Bros. feature “Hereafter,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon, completed filming on Maui last week.

Pre-production is also beginning for the feature film “The Descendents,” starring George Clooney and directed by Academy Award-winning writer/director Alexander Payne. The film is based on the book by Hawai‘i resident Kau‘i Hart Hemmings. Several network pilots, as well as a Japanese drama series and a Korean drama series are also scouting Hawai‘i for projects this year.