Can Rob Marshall make the jump from musicals to fantasy adventure?  We're about to find out.  The man who directed the Oscar-winning movie musical "Chicago" is reportedly circling directing chores for the fourth installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Variety reports Marshall, who stumbled badly with his non-musical "Chicago" follow up "Memoirs of a Geisha," hasn't been officially confirmed, but thinks look good enough that Walt Disney Studios begin casting new characters in anticipation of a 2010 production start.

Gore Verbinski, who helmed the first three installments, bowed out of the fourth in April of this year, but was considered available again after his planned adaptation of the video game "Bioshock" fell apart.  That, however, appears not to be the case.

Marshall is currently putting the finishing touches on his second movie musical, "Nine." The awards season contender features an all star cast including Daniel Day -Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench and Sophia Loren which may have been key in his landing "Pirates 4."  That pedigree of talent may have won star Johnny Depp over in approving a filmmaker who has little action prowess to his credit.

More on this story as it develops over the coming weeks on HitFix.