Since the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy wrapped production more than a year and a half ago, the franchise's stars have happily moved on to other projects. Johnny Depp sang his way to an Oscar nomination in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Keira Knightley received the best reviews of her career for her role in "Atonement" and just wrapped shooting on another period piece, "The Duchess." Even Geoffrey Rush has kept busy, shooting the indie "Laundry Warrior" opposite Kate Bosworth, and reprising his role as Sir Francis Walsingham in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." But besides a self-deprecating appearance on Ricky Gervais' TV show "Extras" and a critically panned West End engagement, the teen heartthrob of the group, Orlando Bloom, has been peculiarly quiet. Well, that's about to change -- sort of.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Bloom is set to join the ensemble indie "An Education" for BBC Films. Set in the early 1960s, the drama follows a teenage girl from the London suburbs whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of a 30-something playboy. The intriguing cast already includes Emma Thompson (the girl's headmistress), Peter Sarsgaard (the dashing playboy who romances her) and Alfred Molina (the disapproving father). Up-and-comer Carey Mulligan, who made her debut in "Pride & Prejudice" and will soon be seen opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman in "Brothers," will play the overwhelmed teen. Rosamund Pike ("Fracture") and Olivia Williams ("Rushmore") round out the cast, but, like Bloom, it's unclear what roles they have in the film.

No doubt feeling the pressure from his agents, Bloom might want to consider booking that next high-profile production soon. Pretty faces fade fast in this town, and Bloom hasn't done much to convince anyone in Hollywood he's more than that (a Razzie nomination for Best Supporting Actor this year is telling). Perhaps that will change with "Education," which is expected to begin shooting in the United Kingdom within the next two months. We'll see.

Next column: Amy Adams helps "Miss Pettigrew" have her day; Lee Pace mixes movies and "Daisies"; and more.

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