Malkovich joins Crossbones

Big screen star John Malkovich has signed up to star in Crossbones, the pirate drama being launched by Sierra/Engine TV at MipTV next month.

Malkovich, star of movies including Red, Burn After Reading, Changeling, Death of a Salesman and In the Line of Fire, will play the part of Blackbeard in the NBC action-adventure series. The role was reportedly offered to House star Hugh Laurie but that deal was never inked.

Crossbones is from Luther creator Neil Cross and Gladiator production duo Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Ted Gold (Three Rivers) will also executive produce.

Based on the book The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard, the period drama is set in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence. Ten episodes were commissioned by NBC, in a straight-to-series deal last May.

The series will be produced by Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Georgeville Television and Universal Television. Sierra/Engine Television, the joint venture set up by Chris Philip’s Engine Entertainment and Nick Meyer’s Sierra/Affinity, will handle international distribution.