Warner Bros. is tackling a new drama project based on the 1945 sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, and the 11-year-old boy who sought to exonerate the ship's captain, 50 years after it sunk.

Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey will produce this untitled project for the studio.

The story will be told through the eyes of Hunter Scott, who, at 11 years of age in 1996, decided to try and exonerate Captain Charles McVay, who was blamed for the disaster. The crew was stranded for five days after being sunk by torpedoes and most were eventually killed in shark attacks.

The Navy court-martialed Charles McVay, although many who survived the ordeal did not blame the captain. Hunter Scott was instrumental in getting the Captain cleared of any wrongdoing, even testifying before Congress. The Navy eventually amended Charles McVay's records in 2001.

Robert Schenkkan (The Quiet American, The Pacific) will write the screenplay, although a director has not been attached as of yet. It isn't known when production will start on this U.S.S. Indianapolis project.