DreamWorks to Tell Blackbeard's Tale

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=45192

Source: Variety (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986031.html?categoryid=13&cs=1)
May 19, 2008


DreamWorks is bringing a project on the life of legendary pirate Blackbeard to the big screen, reports Variety.

David Franzoni, who wrote Amistad and Gladiator for the studio, will write Blackbeard, which delves into the life of British buccaneer Edward Teach.

Barry Josephson (Enchanted) is producing 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.

[J-Sentius]

I did a Project on Blackbeard, sorry but the guy was a bastard lol

Anyway, wasn't jack sparrow based on him?

[Avangarde]

This could be epic but it will need to be its own movie and not turn into a POTC clone.

[Gotham]

I liked what Franzoni did with King Arthur. He managed to modernize that tale quite a bit.

[EML]

I did a Project on Blackbeard, sorry but the guy was a bastard lol

Anyway, wasn't jack sparrow based on him?

I don't think so...

[Nirvana]

This could be good, or this could be absolutely horrible...

[Riven]

Pirate movies, with the glaring exception of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, have traditionally been box office poison and since this movie will more than likely NOT have Johnny Depp performing hilariously fruity mannerisms while being chased across the high seas by undead skippers and seamonsters, I don't think it's gonna do very well. Especially since it's a real-life story about a wholly unlikable character...

[Rac]

Cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Blackbeard.

[Movies205]

Pirate movies, with the glaring exception of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, have traditionally been box office poison and since this movie will more than likely NOT have Johnny Depp performing hilariously fruity mannerisms while being chased across the high seas by undead skippers and seamonsters, I don't think it's gonna do very well. Especially since it's a real-life story about a wholly unlikable character...

Muppet Treasure Island :cmad:

[Catman]

I'm surprised this movie wasn't made in 2004. :o

[Darth Elektra]

I'm excited! This has alot of potential...

[Jackasscoley15]

Cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Blackbeard.

:wow: It's.... perfect.

[TNC9852002]

This could be good, or this could be absolutely horrible...
Spoken like a true, internet geek! :p

-TNC

[bullets]

Cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Blackbeard.


that would definately be a good choice. i've been waiting for a real pirate movie. potc was fun but i've been wanting something like this to come along.

[Cinemaman]

I am so bored with all that Hollywood tendancy to start each franchise, whic is similar to the previous one, just for the money.

[BatSpider]

Im guessing a little less humoristic POTC :o

[IRON_Lad]

can't wait

[terry78]

Arrrr....

What do ya do wit' a drunken sailor?
What do ya do wit' a drunken sailor?
What do ya do wit' a drunk-en sailor
Ear-ly in the mornin'?

Just the women!

[Addendum]

since this movie will more than likely NOT have Johnny Depp performing hilariously fruity mannerisms while being chased across the high seas by undead skippers and seamonsters, I don't think it's gonna do very well. Especially since it's a real-life story about a wholly unlikable character...

If the above is the main focus while making this movie, then I will definitely see this in the theater

[Galactus]

Greengrass Grows a Blackbeard
Bourne helmer in talks for Pirate Movie.
by Orlando Parfitt, IGN UK
UK, September 23, 2008 - Paul Greengrass, who directed The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, is apparently top of a shortlist to direct DreamWorks' forthcoming Blackbeard movie, according to Mania.com.

As we reported back in May, the movie is set to be a fairly realistic, R-rated look at real-life buccaneer Edward Teach, who caused mayhem on the high seas in the 18th Century with his pirating ways.

Greengrass is currently in post-production on his Iraq-set thriller Green Zone (starring Matt Damon), and also has The Trial of the Chicago 7 and – of course – another Bourne project on his already busy schedule.

[Gotham]

Please be true. :up:

Great find, Galactus!

[Jackasscoley15]

Damn it! The Greengrass news is awesome, but if he's got those other films first, that means I got to wait, like, four or five years until this thing. :cmad:

[Poeman]

blackbeard is gonna be awesome

[Galactus]

Josephson Talks "Blackbeard" Plans
By Garth Franklin
Thursday, September 25th 2008 12:08am
The announcement the other day of a biopic of real-life pirate Blackbeard has many wondering if a gritty, real take on piracy will work with audiences more accustomed to fantasy like the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

Producer Barry Josephson ("Men In Black," "Enchanted") believes so, and tells MTV News that "Where 'Pirates of the Caribbean' was a brilliant franchise, it was based on something quite different [than this]. This is based on historical fact. And what's fabulous is you learn so much about pirates in this movie."

He describes Blackbeard himself as "an incredible character... a former naval captain who rejected the English and became a privateer, and who then becomes a pirate because he doesn't want to be lorded over by anyone."

Despite David Franzoni's script not being finalized as yet, he has gone into detail about the story which will run the gamut of Edward Teach's life right up through his eventual death during a battle with Royal Navy Lt. Robert Maynard in North Carolina.

"The first act is really about the evolution of this character and how he became Blackbeard. The second act is about how he sort of defeats the English so handedly. And the third act is about the rise of Maynard being the one who was smart enough, gifted enough, got to know him well enough to be the one person that was able to do what he did."

No actors have been approached, but "we have lots of thoughts about who we want, and when we get the script we will go out and try to get the best people."

[Poeman]

Christian Bale for Blackbeard

[Zephyr Alexian]

This could be epic but it will need to be its own movie and not turn into a POTC clone.

I was apprehensive about this for the exact same reason. I'm pretty sure that this was green lit or approved because of Pirate's success. Greengrass is a credible attachment, so the chances are improving. I just hope the studio doesn't try strong-arm politics with the story and how it needs to be marketed. Blackbeard's life could be very entertaining to see: polarizing perhaps, but very intriguing nonetheless.

[Darth Elektra]

Glad to hear some news. :up: