As a movie critic with a passion for seafaring epics and a soft spot for Russell Crowe’s grizzled charm, I must say that the news of a Master and Commander prequel has me sailing on cloudy skies. Having grown up on the tales of Captain Aubrey and Dr. Maturin, my heart skipped a beat when I heard about this new venture.
The boss of 20th Century Studios, Steve Asbell, has revealed that the studio is still determined to make a prequel to one of Oscar winner Russell Crowe’s best movies. Speaking with THR, and revealing all manner of exciting updates about some of the most iconic franchises, including the likes of Predator, Alien, and Planet of the Apes, Asbell offered an exciting update regarding the long-awaited next installment in the Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World saga.
Since 2021, there have been ongoing developments for a prequel to the movie “Master and Commander.” Now, Asbell has disclosed that a draft of the screenplay is ready, and they are actively seeking an accomplished director to lead the project.
Putting in my best effort, this film is one I started at Fox two decades back. Our script is excellent; it’s simply finding the ideal director that we need now.
In 2003, the film “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” jointly written, produced, and directed by Peter Weir, takes viewers on an adventure to the rough seas of 1805. This captivating story revolves around the H.M.S. Surprise, its daring captain Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe), and his loyal ship’s doctor, Stephen Maturin (portrayed by Paul Bettany). The film follows their pursuit of a formidable French warship during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Master and Commander Prequel Will Follow a Young Jack Aubrey
At its release, Master and Commander was widely praised by critics, earning an impressive 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes. There was much anticipation that the movie would spark a grand sea-faring franchise, inspired by Patrick O’Brian’s novels. Unfortunately, no such series has materialized yet, but it seems that for Asbell, the project held deep passion.
2021 saw the formal announcement of a prequel to the series, with details like cast and director still under wraps. However, it was made clear that the film will be adapted from the first book in the series. Initial reports suggested that the prequel would focus on a young Aubrey receiving his first command, and delve into the origins of his friendship with his naval surgeon, Stephen Maturin (Bettany). Given that this takes place during Aubrey’s early days, it is expected that fresh talent will be cast to portray both characters.
Although Crowe might not reprise his role (although it’s conceivable he could structure the film as an older Jack Aubrey reflecting on his seafaring past), the actor has expressed regret in the past about not being part of more Master and Commander films. He also shared how the series was terminated by the success of Pirates of the Caribbean. In an interview with GQ, he stated:
Looking back, it would have been wise to create more than one film based on our project. Here’s an interesting point: Master and Commander, despite receiving numerous Academy Award nominations and performing well financially worldwide, failed to meet the expected audience numbers in America. This factor played a significant role in our decision-making at the time. In essence, we may have missed our chance. Our production was completed before Pirates of the Caribbean began filming, but our post-production proved to be quite complex and lengthy. Consequently, we were released after Pirates of the Caribbean, and as fate would have it, once people had enjoyed a humorous pirate movie, convincing them to focus on a serious period pirate film became a challenge.
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2024-10-25 15:02