Just a few days ago, we told you that Max Irons and Sam Claflin were reportedly vying for the role of a yet unnamed character that will fill the spot left by the absent Will Turner/Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Now, Walt Disney Pictures has announced that Sam Claflin has, in fact signed to star in the next installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

According to Disney, the 23-year-old actor will play “the key role of Philip, a youthful missionary,” in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Claflin joins the other recent cast addition that we reported, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey – who will play ‘Syrena’, a beautiful and alluring young mermaid encountered by Captain Jack Sparrow.

The Rob Marshall directed, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is shooting in Hawaii this summer and is slated to hit theaters on May 20th, 2011.