French Actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey Cast As Syrena The Mermaid In Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
French Actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey has been selected by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall to star in the key role of Syrena, a beautiful and alluring young mermaid, in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. How big of a role will Syrena the Mermaid have in the fourth installment of the Pirates franchise? Big enough that Disney issued a flashy press release announcing her casting (something that isn't the norm for unknowns or supporting roles). Bergès-Frisbey's credits include the following French films: La Fille du Puisatier, Bruc, Extase, La Premiere Etoile and Un Barrage Contre le Pacifique.
Astrid joins the already announced cast of Johnny Depp, who is reprising his role of Captain Jack Sparrow, Ian McShane who will play Edward Teach, better known as the legendary pirate Blackbeard, a notorious black-bearded pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies during the early 1700s, and famously piloted the ship Queen Anne's Revenge, and Penelope Cruz, who will be playing Blackbeard's daughter, "Sparrow's foil and equal in many ways".
Last week it was reported that British actors Stephen Graham, Sam Claflin, and Max Irons were also in talks to join the production. Graham has appeared in Public Enemies, This Is England, Gangs of New York, Band of Brothers and Snatch. Irons, the 24-year-old son of actors Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack, has appeared in Dorian Gray and Being Julia. Claflin is currently working on British television series The Pillars of the Earth in Budapest. Graham will play the character of Scram, a character whom we have no more details about.
The fourth film will be based on Tim Powers' pirate novel On Stranger Tides which was optioned by Disney years ago. The novel tells the story of Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth. Here's the plot of the novel:
Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake.
Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot wrote the screenplay. Beginning in June, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will film entirely on location in Hawaii, Great Britain and Los Angeles. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on May 20th, 2011.
Read the full press release below:
ASTRID BERGÈS-FRISBEY MAKES U.S. DEBUT IN WALT DISNEY PICTURES'/JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS' EPIC ADVENTURE "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES"
French Actress to Star with Johnny Depp and International Cast
BURBANK, Calif. (April 14, 2010) – Astrid Bergès-Frisbey has been selected by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall to star in the key role of Syrena, a beautiful and alluring young mermaid, in Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' epic adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth in the blockbuster series of films. Bergès -Frisbey joins Johnny Depp, returning in his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow. The film is slated to open on May 20, 2011.
Born in Barcelona of French-American and Catalan parentage, and now based in Paris, Bergès-Frisbey, one of France's brightest young stars, appears in such French films as "La Fille du Puisatier," "Bruc," "Extase," "La Premiere Etoile" and "Un Barrage Contre le Pacifique." She has also appeared in the telefilms "La Reine Morte," "Elles et Moi," "Divine Emilie" and "Sur le Fil." Berges-Frisbey appeared on stage at the Theatre Marigny in a production of Peter Shaffer's "Equus."
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is directed by Rob Marshall, whose first feature film was the Academy Award®-winning "Chicago," followed by "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Nine." Producer Jerry Bruckheimer's films include (producing with Don Simpson) "Top Gun," "Beverly Hills Cop," "Flashdance," and (producing solo) "Con Air," "Armageddon," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy and the "National Treasure" franchise, as well as this summer's "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." JBTV's current series are "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" and its spin-offs "C.S.I.: Miami," "C.S.I.: NY" and "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "The Amazing Race" and "Miami Medical."
The first three films in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series amassed a total international box office of $2.7 billion.
Beginning in June, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will film entirely on location in Hawaii, Great Britain and Los Angeles.