While everyone’s been busy worrying about Johnny Depp, the world has just sort of taken it for granted that Geoffrey Rush would be back as his dastardly (and wickedly entertaining) Captain Barbossa. Well he will be, but we didn’t know that for sure until now.

Variety says Rush is officially back on board the Pirates franchise for another voyage. He’s actually one of the few returning characters, aside from Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley’s fresh faced pirate-noobs for instance, will not be back. To me, Rush was far more important anyway.

Depp gets all the credit but it’s Rush’s Hector Barbossa that plays the movie’s real pirate. He’s an underrated part of the franchise. They need him if only to remind us that pirates are, actually, supposed to be dangerous. He’ll join a cast already comprised of Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, and Stephen Graham. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is expected to start shooting this month. Here’s hoping Barbossa gets to bring Jack the monkey with him.