Cast Away star Tom Hanks is the likely contender for the role of Captain Richard Phillips in the retelling of the Phillips harrowing hostage tale at the hands of Somali pirates, reports Deadline.
Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to the Phillips’ memoirs, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea. Phillips was the captain of the American freighter Maersk Alabama, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2009.
Phillips gave himself up as a hostage to protect his crew. He remained in a lifeboat with his captors for three days before being rescued by the Navy SEALS, who raided the vessel killing three pirates and taking one into custody.
Hanks is reportedly very interested in the draft screenplay written by Billy Ray. Currently, the actor is in New York working alongside Sandra Bullock in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, adapted from the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.
The Toy Story voice star is also planning to reteam with his sidekick Tim Allen for Disney’s Jungle Cruise, inspired by the theme park ride.
On July 1, Hanks co-stars with Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy Larry Crowne.