Ian McShane is Black Beard in Pirates of the Caribean 4

Earlier today The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Ian McShane is in negotiations to play the villain in the 4th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise titled Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

As reported, McShane will be playing the legendary pirate Blackbeard a fearsome pirate who piloted the ship Queen Anne’s Revenge.

McShane will be joining Johnny Depp, who is reprising his role of Captain Jack Sparrow, and Penelope Cruz, who the site reports is playing a character who is basically “Sparrow’s foil and equal in many ways”, in an installment with a story that revolves around the Fountain of Youth.
Contrary to popular speculation this movie may not in fact be a prequel, due to the way the 3rd Pirates movie, At World’s End, ended with Jack Setting sail to find the Fountain of Youth.

Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot wrote the script based on a Tim Powers’ book, of the same title, and which  focuses heavily on the Fountain of Youth. Jerry Bruckheimer is returning as producer, and Director Rob Marshall will be replacing Gore Verbinski at the helm of this movie.

With production already setting sail and Captain Sparrow’s Black Pearl already docked in Hawaii, hearing the news that the movies main villain has been cast may finally mean the movie is going to make its way to theaters.