Nothing is 100% official here yet, but DreamWorks has Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) at the top of their short list of directors to take on their version of Blackbeard, about Edward Teach, who went on to become Blackbeard the pirate.
One thing that is known is that this is going to be a lot more violent, gritty, and real than the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, looking to get an R-rating.
The film is being produced by Barry Josephson and the script is being written by David Franzoni (Gladiator, Amistad).
Below is a plot description from Mania, who got the exclusive on Greengrass.
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 protege 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 protege, 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.
This project has a lot of potential and Paul Greengrass could be a good choice, although I’m not sure how he will do with an epic, period piece biopic over a non-stop action movie. I would be interested to know who else is on this “short list” too.
I’m assuming confirmations will come soon!
