McShane & Cruz Set Sail in Pirates

The cast of the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is filling out, and it is star studded. Ian McShane (Deadwood) is now in talks to to co-star alongside newest cast member Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp in of the Pirates Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. McShane will play the nefarious Blackbeard, who will battle Captain Jack Sparrow as they both search to find “the fountain of youth”.

According to a film insider, “Ian is looking forward to the role. It’ll give him plenty of opportunity to go over the top. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Although Blackbeard was a real life pirate who captained the ship “Queen Anne’s Revenge”, screenwriters Terry Rosio and  Tel Elliot will probably take a few liberties with his character for the film.

The other big casting news for the film is that of Penelope Cruz. Although the name of her character isn’t known as of yet, her character is a tough talking professor’s daughter and will be Captain Jack’s equal.  She has been kidnapped by Blackbeard and is rescued by Captain Jack. Cruz worked with Pirates director Rob Marshall in Nine last year.

Geoffrey Rush’s character Captain Hector Barbossa is still rumored to be in the film, though there is no confirmation of this. Considering that Barbossa and the legendary Blackbeard are very similar in many ways, there might not be room in the film for both.  As reported earlier everywhere, both Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom will not be reprising their roles.

Shooting is scheduled to start shooting this summer and has a May 20, 2011 release date.