The Petite Mermaid

Taking a page from Marvel, who just cast a Euro-appealing actress for its oh-so-American project, Captain America, Disney has tapped French It Girl Astrid Berges-Frisbey for a key role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

The actress will play Syrena, a “beautiful and alluring mermaid” who will play opposite Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow.

Berges-Frisbey joins a cast that includes franchise vet Geoffrey Rush, Penélope Cruz, and Ian McShane as Blackbeard.

Although Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom aren’t expected to reprise their roles as Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner, I fully anticipate a cameo, btw.

Rob Marshall is set to direct the fourthquel, which is set to begin filming in June in Hawaii, Great Britain, L.A. for a May 20, 2011, release.

Photo: Zimbio.com.