Warner Bros. is reportedly interested in casting Oscar winner Javier Bardem in the top villain role for its Peter Pan film.
Bardem would play Blackbeard, the leader of a pirate gang that has brought terror to Neverland. In the story, which is being set up as an origin tale for the beloved J.M. Barrie character, an orphan is brought to Neverland to save the day and that orphan is Peter Pan, who leads the rebellion against Blackbeard. The script was written by Jason Fuchs.
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, Bardem has been offered the part already. Variety also reported on the potential casting.
The Pan project got moving earlier this week, when it was reported that Anna Karenina director Joe Wright was in talks to helm the film. Greg Berlanti is producing and Sarah Schechter has been tapped to oversee it for Warner Bros.
Bardem certainly has more than enough experience in villain roles, winning an Oscar for his chilling performance in 2007’s No Country For Old Men. He also won acclaim for his performance as the villain in last year’s James Bond hit Skyfall. He recently appeared in The Counselor and will co-star in The Gunman with Sean Penn.
Disney and director Gary Ross are currently adapting Peter and the Starcatchers for film, while Sony and producer Joe Roth are working on Pan with Channing Tatum.
image: Wikimedia Commons
