Recently, it was announced that Tom Hanks will play the title role in the upcoming film based on a true story, Captain Phillips.

The release date is set for March 2013 with Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) directing and one of The Hunger Games screenwriters, Billy Ray, writing the script. Some scenes will be filmed in Virginia Beach:

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that scenes from a Tom Hanks film about sea-captain Richard Phillips will be shot in Virginia Beach.

Hanks will play Capt. Phillips, who became famous in 2009 after four Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama freight ship. Phillips was kidnapped by the pirates, only to be rescued through a dramatic sniper operation carried out by Navy SEALs.

Also starring in this film alongside Hanks is Catherine Keener (40 Year Old Virgin) and Michael Chernus (Men in Black III).

Are you excited to see Hanks taken hostage by Somali pirates?  What do you think about Ray writing the script?

Thanks to Richmond Biz Sense for the tip.