Last week a report emerged that Stephen Graham, Max Irons and Sam Claflin were in talks to join Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and now Disney has officially announced that the latter of those has indeed taken a role in the film. 24-year-old Claflin is pretty much a complete unknown at the moment, but will soon be seen in the mini-series The Pillars Of The Earth (which, incidentally, seems to be where Hollywood is getting all its new stars from, as Pillars actress Hayley Atwell just won the role of Captain America’s love interest).
A key role in the Pirates sequel should be a massive shot in the arm for the yound actor’s career. According to the press release Disney sent out (via /Film), Claflin is ‘to star in the key role of Philip, a youthful missionary’, although they don’t give much more info on the part. However it’s believed to be the equivalent of Orlando Bloom’s role in the earlier Pirates films (although hopefully less annoying than Will Turner).
He’ll join Johnny Depp (back as Jack Sparrow), Ian McShane (Blackbeard), Penelope Cruz (Blackbeard’s daughter), and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (mermaid Syrena) in On Stranger Tides, which will see Captain Jack going up against Blackbeard while on a quest to find the fountain of youth. The movie starts shooting in Hawaii, the UK and LA this June, with Rob Marshall directing.