Columbia Pictures has hired Billy Ray (upcoming Gears of War and Motorcade) to write the script for its Somali pirate film based on true events.

The untitled project centers on captain Richard Phillips, who was held hostage by four Somali pirates and was subsequently rescued by a group of Navy SEALs.

The studio picked up the captain's life rights in May as well as optioned the film rights to his upcoming memoir, "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs and Five Dangerous Days."

Michael De Luca, Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti and Scott Rudin are producing.