Warner Bros has offered Javier Bardem the lead villain role in Pan, the newest interpretation of the Peter Pan story. If he accepts, Bardem will play Blackbeard, the leader of the evil pirates who plague Neverland. There is currently no word on why Bardem is playing a character named Blackbeard (who is an historical figure) instead of the pirate Captain Hook from the source material. Since Pan is an origin story, it could be possible that the tale of Captain Hook’s beginning will date back to the fearsome Blackbeard. This would make for a creative crossover between history and literature.
Joe Wright (Anna Karenina) is currently in talks to direct the film based on the script by Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift). Fuch’s adaptation will feature an orphan who is transported to Neverland, where he becomes a leader in the natives’ struggle to free themselves from the terror of the pirates. Presumably, this orphan becomes known as the legendary Peter Pan.
While Bardem has played many interesting roles throughout his career, his villain roles have brought him the most acclaim. In 2007’s No Country For Old Men he played psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh, a role for which he won an Oscar. More recently, in 2012 Bardem received widespread praise including a Screen Actors Guild Nomination for his Bond villain Raoul Silva. Blackbeard could prove to be a worthy addition to his collection of memorable antagonists.
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