Greengrass Eyed for ‘Blackbeard’ Biopic
Given the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, other pirate films were expected to come roaring onto screens but surprisingly few have gotten out of development. The first to actually make it to the cameras may be the DreamWorks production of Blackbeard, a biopic of Edward Teach. Mania is reporting that Bourne Supremacy director Paul Greengrass is likely to sign on to direct.
The screenplay is by David Franzoni (Amistad) which Variety has reported would take a more real world view of buccaneers complete with their treacherous ways. Pat Croce, who wrote Pirate Soul, about the 1690-1730 era, was on board along with producer Barry Josephson.
According to Mania, the plot goes something like this: “Edward Teach is in the employ of Britain’s royal navy and fought for the queen in the War of Spanish Succession. During that time he had a protégé who served with him as his first mate. When Britain withdrew from the war in the early 1700’s, many men of the royal navy were disavowed. Teach, feeling betrayed and without a country to call his own, turned to piracy. With many of his disavowed sea fairing comrades, he took a ship and using his honed skills and intimate knowledge of the navy’s shipping routes and pots, began exacting his revenge.
“Becoming an increasing threat, the British navy directed Teach’s old protégé, now a captain, to hunt down Blackbeard and put an end to his tyranny. For the most part the story will be based on some truth but the protégé subplot is completely made up and, if successful, will be used again.”
Sounds like the PERFECT role for Gerard Butler!