Captain Richard Phillips was in command of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama cargo ship on its voyage to Mombasa, Kenya carrying around 17,000 tons of cargo. However, a routine shipping turned into a deadly nightmare when a group of gun-toting, seafaring pirates from Somalia hijacked the vessel, easily avoiding the jets coming out of the fire hoses on all sides, and took the Captain hostage. With only minutes to spare before he came under attack, the brave Captain ordered his crew of 20 to hide, knowing full well that his life was under enormous threat.
'Captain Phillips' is a nerve-wracking thriller detailing the true story of Richard Phillips and his terrifying pirate experience in 2009. It is based his recollections from the book 'A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea' co-written by Stephan Tatty. The movie has been directed by Paul Greengrass ('The Bourne Supremacy', 'Green Zone', 'United 93') and written by Billy Ray ('The Hunger Games', 'State of Play', 'Flightplan') and is the first movie to be made about the globally remembered - but thankfully unsuccessful - attack that was the first of its kind since the 19th century. It is set to hit UK cinemas on October 18th 2013.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Christopher Stadulis, Max Martini, John Magaro, Chris Mulkey, Yul Vazquez, Michael Chernus, David Warshofsky, Corey Johnson, Maria Dizzia, Angus MacInnes, Roger Edwards, Rey Hernandez, San Shella, Vincenzo Nicoli, John Patrick Barry, Mark Holden, Stacha Hicks, Len Anderson IV, Will Bowden, Terence Anderson, David Webber