Written by new-contact on Apr 23, 2012. Posted in Production News

Tom Hanks’ Captain Phillips feature films on location in Malta

A feature adaptation of a notorious real-life encounter with Somali pirates is filming on location in Malta, with the Mediterranean doubling for the Indian Ocean. Tom Hanks is playing the lead and Paul Greengrass is directing.

Captain Phillips was a cargo ship skipper who offered himself as a prisoner in exchange for the safety of his crew when Somali pirates hijacked his ship in 2009.

Peter Busuttil is Malta's Film Commissioner: “They’ve been filming for a few weeks now. Most of the shoot is actually happening on a tanker out at sea, although there will be some scenes shot in our water tank facilities.

Most of the shoot is actually happening on a tanker out at sea, although there will be some scenes shot in our water tank facilities.

Peter Busuttil, Maltese Film Commissioner

“We’re hoping the team may end up shooting some beach scenes locally too. As far as I’m aware there are also plans for a UK studio shoot.”

The film has all the hallmarks of a classic Hollywood drama, as several pirates were eventually killed by US Navy snipers on President Obama’s orders and Captain Phillips dramatically rescued after only a few days as a prisoner.

(Main page Malta image courtesy of Mark Sansone)