New Master and Commander movie to be written by Patrick Ness

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Based on the novels by Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was released nearly twenty years ago, and although the sea-faring adventure was intended to launch a franchise, no sequels materialized. Fans have been begging for another film all this time, and Deadline has now reported that a new Master and Commander movie is now in the works at 20th Century. Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls) is working on the script, but the project is still in the early stages so no director is attached at the moment.

The 2003 Master and Commander film starred Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey, "a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America." The film also starred Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin, the ship's doctor and Aubrey's good friend. For those of you hoping that Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany will be returning for the new film, I wouldn't hold your breath. Deadline's sources say that the new Master and Commander movie will be based on the first book in the series and follow a young Aubrey as he's given his first command and forms his friendship with Maturin. The original movie came under fire earlier this year for being boring — something I do not agree with — but Russell Crowe was quick to jump to the film's defense.

Peter Weirs film is brilliant. An exacting, detail oriented, epic tale of fidelity to Empire & service, regardless of the cost. Incredible cinematography by Russell Boyd & a majestic soundtrack. Definitely an adults movie.

Patrick Ness is best known for writing the Chaos Walking novels, but he branched off to the screenwriting side of things with A Monster Calls and recently completed the script for Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of The Lord of the Flies.