Yesterday word got out that Penelope Cruz would jump into the bear pit of Lars Von Trier’s next, Melancholia.

Now we’re hearing that she in talks to play opposite Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, subtitled On Stranger Tides, a move which would reunite her with Nine director Rob Marshall.

Heat Vision had the story, which seems to have disappeared in the meantime (either my browser is broken or it was a mistake…), and there’s no more detail on who Cruz might play, but she is expected to be Sparrow’s equal (which means there really is no more news here).

Here’s hoping they give Cruz something a little more interesting to do than affect an outrageous accent and throw mild crazies at the drop of a three cornered hat – but then again, that would make her a true equal to Depp’s character.

PotC 4: On Stranger Tides is sailing for a May 2011 release.