Paul Greengrass is in talks to direct Maresk Alabama for Sony Pictures, which is shaping up to be his next movie. We reported last week that the director was considering both this project and the racing drama Rush, which was written by Peter Morgan.

Now it seems the director has made his choice.

Tom Hanks is attached to star in Maresk Alabama as Captain Richard Phillips, whose abduction at the hands of Somali pirates made worldwide headlines back in 2009. The project is based on Richard Phillips' book, A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, which recounts his three days as a prisoner before being rescued by a Navy SEAL team. The book was published last year by Hyperion.

Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Kevin Spacey will produce Maresk Alabama for Sony, the same team which produced the Oscar-nominated Facebook drama The Social Network.

No production schedule was given for Maresk Alabama.