Hugh Jackman has officially signed on to play pirate Captain Blackbeard in Warner Bros. new Peter Pan film.

Warner Bros. Peter Pan retelling is beginning to take shape, with Garrett Hedlund signing on as Hook yesterday for the Peter Pan origin story.

Variety reports that Hugh Jackman will join Hedlund as Blackbeard in Joe Wright’s classic retelling of Peter Pan. Javier Bardem had been offered the role, but it’s being reported that he passed, which allowed the role to be offered to Jackman.

Greg Silverman, Warner Bros. President of Creative Development, released a statement concerning the actor’s ability saying, “Hugh Jackman always delivers indelible performances that resonate with audiences, we know he will create a Blackbeard who will be a powerful presence in this original Peter Pan adventure.”

Jackman has sported a beard on screen quite a few times, most memorably in Les Misérables. So we think he’s a great fit for the role of the bearded captain of the evildoers in Peter Pan.

The film’s script has been written by Jason Fuchs. Berlanti Productions is producing the film with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter from Warner Bros.

Pan’s logline states: An orphan is taken to the magical world of Neverland, where he becomes the savior of the natives and leads a rebellion against evil pirates.

Hugh Jackman isn’t known for playing villains normally, but he does have a dark side, which was recently shown in 2013’s Prisoners. Jackman can be seen next in X-Men: Days of Future Past, which has a new trailer landing online Monday.

With Jackman cast as Blackbeard and Hedlund signed on as Hook, we look forward to finding out who will be playing Peter Pan in Warner Bros. new adaptation.

The new Peter Pan film’s release date has been set for July 17, 2015. The Pan origins tale will be released in 3D and 2D.