14 DAY TRIAL // As Disney continued with plans for a fourth film in the “Pirates of Caribbean” franchise, both Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom announced that they would not be reprising their roles. Keira was eventually replaced by Penelope Cruz, who would be Captain Sparrow’s love interest and names for candidates for Bloom are also being thrown about, as E! Online has learned.
Apparently, the movie studio considers it has enough star power for “On Stranger Tides,” the fourth film, and is willing to go for Orlando’s replacement with a virtual unknown. Of course, that’s not to say that the actors that are now being considered for the part have zero experience, but just that they are relative strangers to the Hollywood audience. One such actor is Max Irons, model, actor and son of Jeremy Irons, and Sam Claflin.
“Loyal fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise may not be too happy that Orlando Bloom won’t be returning for the fourth flick, but there are two guys out there who must be positively thrilled by his departure. I hear two newcomers are at the top of the list to be Pirates’ new young leading heartthrob... A very well-placed source tells me that Max Irons and Sam Claflin are both in the running to grab Bloom’s big sword and fill his swashbuckler shoes,” E! writes.
“Neither has too much experience, but they sure are lookers. Irons, 24, is the son of actors Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack. He’s appeared in a recent adaptation of Dorian Gray with Colin Firth and had a bit part in Being Julia, which starred his dad and Annette Bening. The young Irons has also modeled for Burberry. Claflin, 23, is currently filming British television series The Pillars of the Earth in Budapest,” the report further says.
Directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is scheduled to start shooting in Hawaii this summer, to arrive in theaters in May next year. As noted above, Penelope Cruz will play Cpt. Sparrow’s (Johnny Depp) love interest, while Ian McShane is Blackbeard, the villain. Should Disney announce a new heartthrob added to the cast, you will surely find out about it here.