Hugh Jackman is now officially confirmed to play the role of Blackbeard in the as yet untitled Peter Pan flick. And a third thing: The movie’s release date, which was “summer of 2015″ as of yesterday, is now July 17, 2015.
“Hugh Jackman always delivers indelible performances that resonate with audiences. We know he will create a Blackbeard who will be a powerful presence in this original Peter Pan adventure,”; said Greg Silverman of Warner Bros. in a statement.
It’s been over 10 years since Hollywood last tried to bring Peter Pan to the big screen (Peter Pan came and went from theatres in 2003, and is best remembered today for introducing the world to Coldplay’s “Clocks”;), which means that Hollywood has been overdue for a reboot/remake/prequel/sequel for at least 8 years now.
For all the Peter Pan addicts out there who have managed to weather the drought so far, don’t worry—an end to your suffering is within sight. Warner Bros. is aiming to get Pan—a Peter Pan origin story—into theatres by 2015. The only person attached for now is director Joe Wright (whose Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, and Anna Karenina have made him the go-to guy for respectable adaptations of classics), but he could be joined at any moment by some notable A-list actors.
It’s already been reported that Hugh Jackman has been offered the role of Blackbeard. (Whether or not Jackman has accepted remains to be seen. UPDATE: No, it doesn’t.) And now The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Garrett Hedlund (Tron, On the Road) has been offered the role of Captain Hook. The role was previously played by Dustin Hoffman in 1991’s Hook.
In the script by Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift), Pan and a pre-hook Captain Hook (who works on board Blackbeard’s pirate ship) begin as friends.
Warner Bros. has not set a firm release date yet, but is reportedly eyeing the summer of 2015.