Oscar nominee Penelope Cruz is in talks to join director Rob Marshall in the fourth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Cruz, shortlisted for a best supporting Oscar for her role in Marshall’s Nine, will star opposite Johnny Depp, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, in a tale revolving around the Fountain of Youth. Filming begins this summer.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is set to open in May 2011.
The Ring director Gore Verbinski, who directed the original hit film, and subsequent sequels, announced he was stepping down from the series last year.

Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot have written the script for the forthcoming film, with Jerry Bruckheimer as producer.

However, Depp’s former co-stars, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, are not expected to return.

The previous three films earned more than $2.6bn (£1.5bn) around the world.

Cruz, 35, earned her third Oscar nomination earlier this month for Marshall’s star-studded musical Nine – a reworking of Federico Fellini’s 81/2 – but is widely predicted to lose out to Precious star Mo’Nique.

The Spanish star won the best supporting gong last year for her role in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.