EXCLUSIVE: Pine Bay Pictures, Morning Moon and Traction have set SNL alum Rob Riggle and Fast & Furious franchise lead Jordana Brewster for Josh Plasse’s The Pirate King.
Riggle will star as a Marine veteran struggling with PTSD and addiction who finds unexpected redemption when he joins a group of pirate reenactors, giving him a chance to fight for custody of his daughter and rebuild the life he thought was lost forever. Production starts this month.
The script was penned by Plasse based on a story by Brev Moss inspired by the exploits and adventures of real-life pirate Captain Todd Willis.
Riggle, who is a former Marine officer attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel said, “I have seen the hope and struggle that many veterans across the country experience in this script, and I’m honored to be part of this film to share their story.”
Plasse added, “The Pirate King is a love letter to Virginia Beach and the community I grew up in. As the son of a Navy SEAL, I’ve seen the cost of service up close, and this film captures the harsh reality of Veteran assimilation while also exploring the communal nature of pirate re-enacting. We promised ourselves we would only make this film if we felt it could truly honor and give back to the Veteran community. The moment Rob signed on, I knew we had something authentic that would accomplish this goal.”
Brewster said, “It is a privilege to be a part of this project. Josh wrote a beautiful screenplay with humor and heart which highlights the need to support our Veterans.”
Riggle retired from the Marines in 2013 after 23 years of service. He first broke out as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and went on to star in Step Brothers, The Hangover, 21 Jump Street and Talladega Nights.
Morning Moon’s Ethan Lazar, Kyle Owens, Austen Rydell and Billie Lourd, Traction’s Jason Tamasco and Zak Kristofek and Pine Bay Pictures’ Brev Moss are producing. Executive Producers are Nidal Kahl, Mike Hodges, Bobby McMichael, and Steve Johnson.
