Ian McShane joins Jack the Giant Killer

Ian McShane has signed up to star in 'Jack the Giant Killer'.

The British star - who will soon appear in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz - will play the royal father of a princess kidnapped by giants in the Bryan Singer-directed epic, based on the classic tale 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.

Nicholas Hoult take the leading role of Jack in the film, opposite Eleanor Tomlinson as the princess, while McShane's character King Brahmwell will be the belligerent older man unhappy with his daughter's relationship with a farmer.

Ewan McGregor and Bill Nighy also have parts in the movie, which sees Jack set off on an expedition to save his royal girlfriend who has been kidnapped, possibly threatening the long-existing peace between the giants and humans.

Although best known in the UK for his role in crime drama 'Lovejoy', Ian has had a successful cinema career - especially in voiceover roles in movies including 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice', 'Kung Fu Panda' and 'Shrek the Third'.