Blackbeard!

[Mr_Scabbs]

Dreamworks will apparently be making a new pirate film about Blackbeard. It's going to be penned by the guy who did Gladiator! Let's just hope this is legit...

http://movies.ign.com/articles/874/874941p1.html

[Cut-throat]

If it is legit, I hope it's a hell of a lot better than that bilge they put out on the Hallmark channel. I should have known better just by the name Hallmark......ugh, Blackbeard being reduced to a greeting card production.

[Captain Jim]

Some of the more important stuff:

Source: Variety May 19, 2008 (Here for the full Variety article)

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.

Pat Croce, for those who don't know, owns the Pirate Soul Museum down old Key West way.

Not to be picky or anything but already they have a couple of things wrong, to wit: 1) Blackbeard was not technically a Buccaneer but a pirate (but that may be nitpicking) 2) Blackbeard was not British. He was Welsh by extraction, English by nationality. "Britain" the political entity had not been created atthe time of Blackbeard. Let us just hope that these errors belong to the Variety writer and not the production team.

[MadL]

I thought I had read that no actual birth record of Edward Teach had been found and so no one truly knows his exact nationality.

[Hester]

Who'll play the lead role?

[MadL]

it says:

"At present no cast or directors have been signed up for the film."

such a pity, that be two now what not even off the ground if ye include 'Pirattes' (which would be much more pretty then Jack Sparrow)

[Red Sea Trade]

Do you suppose it is possible, just possiblethat Hollywood can resist the temptation to turn one of America's greatest true adventure stories into absolute, steaming offal? The story of Blackbeard has EVERYTHING--pitched sea battles, duels to the death, romance (of a sort), alcohol abuse, severed heads and a gigantic, cheery psychopath at the center.

That being the case, Hollywood will probably cast Cameron Diaz as Lt. Maynard, the cross-dressing, spunky, proto-feminist; Morgan Freeman as Hassan, the all-knowing Moor and Tobey MacGuire as the gentle, wispy-bearded, misunderstood "Eddie" Teach.

I can see it now, and I want to die.

[Lady Alyx]

We do need a very good rendition of a true pirate romp!

[oderlesseye]

We do need a very good rendition of a true pirate romp!

EYE went thar!

[MadL]

The story of Blackbeard has EVERYTHING--pitched sea battles, duels to the death, romance (of a sort), alcohol abuse, severed heads and a gigantic, cheery psychopath at the center.

Now just hold on there, we should not be speak'n so unkind o' poor Lt. Maynard with such words. After all, it was most likely his parents who drove him t' th' wrong side....

[Hester]

Tobey MacGuire as the gentle, wispy-bearded, misunderstood "Eddie" Teach.

I can see it now, and I want to die.

I've never understood the appeal of Tobey Maguire!

I'm gonna watch Spiderman 3 on TV tonight, but Maguire's such a gweeb compared to the cool Spidey/Peter Parker from the TV cartoon version of my childhood. The cartoon version had a sexy voice and dry deadpan wit, while Maguire just squeaks & whines.

How about Gerard Butler as Blackbeard? He does menace rather nicely!

[Red Sea Trade]

How about Gerard Butler as Blackbeard?  He does menace rather nicely!

Yes, he would do well, I think. The real challenge, however, will be Lt. Maynard.

Will the director have the courage to portray him as a real Royal Navy officer (all buttoned up in frock coat, breeches, buckle shoes, waistcoat, neckcloth, cocked hat and wig, with nary an inch of skin showing but hands and face) or will he be the typical 18th century movie "dreamboat", with a waxed, boyish chest peaking through his permanently open shirt and some sort of ridiculous suede trousers? Perhaps portrayed by a fine thespian like Ashton Kutcher...

Oh, why do I even ask?

[Hester]

Perhaps portrayed by a fine thespian like Ashton Kutcher...

Dude, Where's My Jollyboat?

[the Royaliste]

Buggar!..There be more 'n a few scholars wot believe Teach was a Carolina native, hence the affinity for screwin' with Charleston, and his ease with the sounds and waterways of the low country....We'll be escortin' RR version of his 'ead off'n our bowspreet to Hampton this week..

[Lady Seahawke]

Casting Blackbeard...IMHO only one person could play such a grandose character and that be...

Geoffrey Rush

Dodging blades if'n I spelled the name wrong.

But think he would be the ideal for the character.

What say ye all?

[Mad Jack Morgan]

While I say you've got a good choice in ol' Geoffrey there, I can probably say with absolute certainty it wouldnt be him, due to Barbossa. Just my hunch.

I do think the afore mentioned Mr. Butler could pull it off. At least he's tall enough.

[1stMate Matt]

heard whispers about this a few weeks ago in an email. Hope it ends up happening.

[Bilgemunky]

Rush makes a splendid pirate, but I don't see him as Blackbeard - too wirery, and a few too many years. Butler, on the other hand, can carry that robust, "larger than life" physique and personality Blackbeard was so known for.

It's true that, of any pirate, Blackbeard's story should require the least tweaking to make it exciting and "piratey" enough for public consumpion. But hollywood or authentic, ultimately I just hope it's a good film. Decent writing, believable dialogue, compelling action, etc. etc. Sadly, butchering the history of a subject is only one of many crimes the film industry is capable of

[Blackbead]

How many times must I say it, mates? It be "BlackBEAD," NOT "BlackBEARD"! For the life of me, I can't think of why they want to make a movie about me, even being such a handsome, successful, manly, personage that I am! Oh, well; I have no problem with Butler playing me but they might have to find another more dashingly good-looking, buff, ripped, cut, vision of manhood to make it truely believable. Ahh, sadly, 'tis true that Hollywood has a way of changing history to their liking! More likely someone like Drew Carey will wind up getting this plum role!

Blackbead

[Christine]

Perhaps Gerard will make a far better Blackbeard than he did as the Phantom. As long as Schumacher does not direct this, Gerard would do fine.

[Hester]

Perhaps Gerard will make a far better Blackbeard than he did as the Phantom. As long as Schumacher does not direct this, Gerard would do fine.

Mask aside, I didn't even recognize Gerard Butler in that role.

I'd first seen him in Timeline (rather a mish-mash of a movie) and thought "Wow!" -- but it never occurred to me that it was the same actor in The Phantom.

Actually, I found the Phantom movie visually quite stunning, despite the weak storytelling. I'm not much of a musical theatre fan though (never saw the stage version), and Andrew Lloyd Weber really isn't my musical cuppa.

[Christine]

Perhaps Gerard will make a far better Blackbeard than he did as the Phantom.  As long as Schumacher does not direct this, Gerard would do fine.   

Mask aside, I didn't even recognize Gerard Butler in that role.

I'd first seen him in Timeline (rather a mish-mash of a movie) and thought "Wow!" -- but it never occurred to me that it was the same actor in The Phantom.

Actually, I found the Phantom movie visually quite stunning, despite the weak storytelling. I'm not much of a musical theatre fan though (never saw the stage version), and Andrew Lloyd Weber really isn't my musical cuppa.

What I had a problem with is that Schumacher wanted an all young and sexy cast. Not caring anything about the original story and how having a sexy Phantom is contradicting. The whole movie reminded me too much of a harlequin romance novel, way too much fluff. Schumacher did that to target new, younger fans, which is why he went with the whole sexy Phantom concept, ugh!

[MadL]

Blimey!! How do he do it?!? When e'er I read one o' Bilge Munky's posts I always hear that purple munky from the radio speak'n it in me head!??!

[Matty Bottles]

I hope Gerard Butler boots prisoners off the blank whilst screaming "Madness? No, this is Queen Anne's Revenge!"

[Capt. Sterling]

Wonder if they can bulk up Daniel Day-Lewis... he is about the only person I can see pulling the part off as a serious actor...