I thought Sam Claflin was one of the best parts of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
as the missionary who falls in love with a mermaid. It was clear that his role was meant to fill the gap left by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's departure, and likely means he'll be back for Jack Sparrow's next adventure. But Claflin was also working on a franchise of his own, taking on the lead in The Seventh Son, based on Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice 
novels. Well that's out the window apparently as talks broke down and now he's gone, only to be replaced by a guy with more franchise cred: Ben Barnes. Claflin will be ok, as he's locked in to play the Prince in Snow White and the Huntsman, which I'm guessing means he'll get to make kissy face with Kristen Stewart. Barnes has starred as Prince Caspian in two of the three Chronicles of Narnia flicks, most recently appearing in Voyage of the Dawn Treader
. He joins an impressive veteran cast featuring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore, along with young Alicia Vikander. Set in the 1700s, the story centers on Thomas J. Ward(Barnes), the seventh son of a seventh son. He discovers that he has the mystical ability to sense darkness and the creatures within. He goes under the tutelage of Master Gregory(Bridges) who teaches him how to control his powers as a "Spook". Vikander is Alice Deane, a possible love interest with magical problems of her own. Moore is the villain, Mother Malkin. Two time Academy Award nominated director Sergei Bodrov(Mongol
) directs.
