Variety reports that Columbia Pictures has acquired the life rights of cargo ship Captain Richard Phillips, who was taken hostage by armed four Somali pirates, attempted to escape and was eventually rescued by the U.S. Navy.
The studio has also optioned the film rights to Phillips’ upcoming memoir. Michael DeLuca, Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti and Scott Rudin are onboard to produce.
The film will retell the events that garnered headlines worldwide in April. After his ship was hijacked on the high seas, Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates in order to protect his crew. The married father of two made one unsuccessful escape attempt before an elite squad of Navy SEAL snipers shot and killed three of the four pirates an action authorized by President Obama. A fourth pirate surrendered and is in custody.
