Penelope Cruz to Join Johnny Depp in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’

This summer, the much-anticipated fourth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” called “On Stranger Tides,” will start shooting in Hawaii. A script is already finished and most details are already worked out – except for the participation of Penelope Cruz, whom Disney wants in the film, as Variety informs.

After both Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom announced that they would not be returning to the franchise after a very long and, one might as well add, a very successful run with it for the first three installments, it became clear that other stars would be attached soon as well. Of course, Johnny Depp could carry “Pirates 4” all by himself with his Cpt. Sparrow, it is being said, but there’s really no need for Disney to take any chances with that right now, especially when such high expectations are pinned on the upcoming film.

“Penelope Cruz is in negotiations for Disney’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ opposite Johnny Depp. The fourth ‘Pirates,’ directed by Rob Marshall, will start shooting in Hawaii this summer with Jerry Bruckheimer producing. Disney’s set a May 20, 2011, release. Disney's kept plot details of the fourth iteration, with the script penned by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, under wraps,” Variety says.

So far, no other details on this have emerged. Whether Cruz is truly in negotiations with Disney for a part in “Pirates 4” or what that will be is not known, but, assuming there is some truth to the rumor, something official should emerge in the following weeks. In the meantime, the only thing officially announced is the date and location when the film goes into production, as we were also telling you a while back, and intense speculation that Depp got a paycheck of no less than $38 million to reprise his part as the wacky Cpt. Sparrow.

“The Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger met with Governor 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. ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ will star Johnny Depp, returning to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow,” a statement from Disney, issued almost a month ago, said.