EXCLUSIVE: DreamWorks Wants Greengrass for BLACKBEARD (Mania.com)
By:Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008
When Variety reported back in May that DreamWorks was looking into bringing a Blackbeard movie to the big screen, there were a few intriguing possibilities thrown into the equation for Pirate movie fans everywhere. Unlike Disney's very successful Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, the word came down the wires that this look into the life of British buccaneer Edward Teach would incorporate a more serious R-rated take into the world of piracy and less of the fantasy elements that we received out Disney.
Producer Barry Josephson was said to be on board alongside motivational speaker and former Philadelphia 76ers president/co-owner Pat Croce, who wrote "Pirate Soul," a book that chronicled the golden era of piracy, which spanned 1690-1730. David Franzoni (Gladiator, Amistad) was said to be aboard as screenwriter.
We've heard very little since that announcement until now.
Updated:
A source has informed Mania that the Blackbeard film is still moving forward with Paul Greengrass, the man behind Universal’s successful Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum and United 93, leading the short list of candidates to direct.
Franzoni's script is still in play here with producer Barry Josephson still backing the writer's take on the subject. As far as story is concerned, here's what the plot centers on.
Plot Concept: 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.
When we receive further updates, we'll pass it along.