(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Tom Hanks is set to take a leading role in a new movie about the Maersk Alabama hijacking.

The 54-year-old American actor has starred in some of the most iconic films in Hollywood history, such as Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and Saving Private Ryan.

It has now been reported that his latest project will see him play Captain Richard Phillips, the leader of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama which was involved in a hijacking by pirates in 2009. Richard became internationally known as a hero after he gave himself up as a hostage to Somali pirates to prevent his crew from having to leave the ship with them.

He ended up spending three days alone with armed pirates in a lifeboat, and was eventually saved by the Navy SEALs.

A book has already been published documenting the heroic tale, entitled A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea. Now Sony Pictures Entertainment will be bringing the story to the big screen, with Tom as the main star.

According to reports the film will be produced by the same team who worked on last years blockbuster The Social Network; Scott Rudin, Michael DeLuca, Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti. (C) Cover Media