Sam Claflin Joins Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Disney has issued a press release announcing that British actor Sam Claflin has officially joined the cast of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall 's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. According to the release, Cladlin will "star in the key role of Philip, a youthful missionary." Claflin is currently working on British television series The Pillars of the Earth in Budapest.  Find out more information after the jump.

Claflin joins the already announced cast of Johnny Depp, who is reprising his role of Captain Jack Sparrow, Ian McShane who will play Edward Teach, better known as the legendary pirate Blackbeard, a notorious black-bearded pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies during the early 1700s, and famously piloted the ship Queen Anne's Revenge, Penelope Cruz, who will be playing Blackbeard's daughter, "Sparrow's foil and equal in many ways", and French Actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey who will play a beautiful and alluring young mermaid named Syrena.

Claflin was mentioned in a report last week which also included fellow British actors Stephen Graham and Max Irons were also in talks to join the production. Graham has appeared in Public Enemies, This Is England, Gangs of New York, Band of Brothers and Snatch. Irons, the 24-year-old son of actors Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack, has appeared in Dorian Gray and Being Julia. Graham will play the character of Scram, a character whom we have no more details about.

The fourth film will be based on Tim Powers' pirate novel On Stranger Tides which was optioned by Disney years ago. The novel tells the story of Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth. Here's the plot of the novel:

Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake.

Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot wrote the screenplay. Beginning in June, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will film entirely on location in Hawaii, Great Britain and Los Angeles. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on May 20th, 2011.Read the full press release below:

SAM CLAFLIN ADDED TO CAST OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES'/JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS' EPIC ADVENTURE

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES"

British Actor to Star with Johnny Depp and International Cast

BURBANK, Calif. (April 15, 2010) – Sam Claflin has been selected by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall to star in the key role of Philip, a youthful missionary, in Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' epic adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth in the blockbuster series of films. Claflin joins Johnny Depp, returning in his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow, as well as Astrid Berges-Frisbey and an international cast. The film is slated to open on May 20, 2011.

Hailing from the United Kingdom, Claflin attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He then won roles in the historical mini-series "The Pillars of the Earth," alongside actors Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew MacFadyen and Donald Sutherland, followed by the telefilm "The Lost Future."

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is directed by Rob Marshall, whose first feature film was the Academy Award®-winning "Chicago," followed by "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Nine." Producer Jerry Bruckheimer's films include (producing with Don Simpson) "Top Gun," "Beverly Hills Cop," "Flashdance," and (producing solo) "Con Air," "Armageddon," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy and the "National Treasure" franchise, as well as this summer's "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." JBTV's current series are "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" and its spin-offs "C.S.I.: Miami," "C.S.I.: NY" and "Cold Case," "The Amazing Race" and "Miami Medical."

The first three films in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series amassed a total international box office of $2.7 billion.

Beginning in June, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will film entirely on location in Hawaii, Great Britain and Los Angeles.