Paul Greengrass & Tom Hanks' Pirate Movie 'Captain Phillips' Sails Into Theaters On March 22, 2013

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by Kevin Jagernauth
December 9, 2011 9:31 AM
4 Comments

So, we guess it's happening then. First announced over the summer under its earlier title "Maersk Alabama" with Paul Greengrass to direct and Tom Hanks to star, not much was heard since and we began to wonder if it was yet another project stuck in development for the director. But nope, that's not the case at all as Sony has earmarked the film, now titled "Captain Phillips," for a March 22, 2013 release.

It's an interesting date, one that suggests this based-on-a-true-story tale won't be an awards season baiter like we thought, but simply a straight genre play. Captain Richard Phillips made worldwide headlines back in 2009 when he gave himself up to Somali pirates in exchange for the safety of his crew after his boat was attacked. Three days later, Navy SEALs stormed the lifeboat Phillips was being held hostage in and emerged with the captain, leaving three of the pirates dead. Billy Ray (”Shattered Glass,” “Breach”) wrote the screenplay. So far, the film's only competition that weekend is the animated "The Croods," but obviously that's for an entirely different audience.

And oh yeah, you may have heard about that remake of the 1976 movie "Sparkle" that's brewing with Cee-Lo Green, Whitney Houston, "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks, Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, Derek Luke, Mike Epps and Omari Hardwick among the cast? Well, lo and behold it's way further along that we figured, as it has now been stamped wth an August 10, 2012 release date. The film will tell the tale of a Supremes-like Motown group on the rise in the 1950s and will feature original music from R. Kelly (awesome). It's just too bad we'll be seeing the Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis comedy "Rivals" that weekend instead, while genre buffs will be checking out Jonathan Levine's zombie romance "Warm Bodies" [Variety]

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More: Tom Hanks, Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips, Sparkle

4 Comments

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Kareem | December 9, 2011 12:06 PMReply

Speak for yourself indeed, I can't wait to see Sparkle and will be first in line come Aug 10th. Go Nippy!
geha714 | December 9, 2011 10:30 AMReply

Speak for yourself, Honey Swan. I'm interested in what Greengrass & Hanks can do in this.
the honey swan | December 9, 2011 10:19 AMReply

I'll speak for everyone. Not one f*** is given about this project. Of all the non fiction subjects, this is terribly slight. Hanks needs to get back in the game. Greengrass is a fine director for him but lose the heroic dad roles.
bunty | December 9, 2011 9:38 AMReply

Fair play to Hanks, he seems to be lining up some interesting choices.