DreamWorks making 'Blackbeard'

DreamWorks is to make a movie based on the life of notorious pirate Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard.

Variety reports that David Franzoni (Gladiator) and Pat Croce will collaborate on a script for producer Barry Josephson (Enchanted).

Croce, who owns a pirate museum in Florida and has written the upcoming book My Pop-Pop Is a Pirate, originally pitched the idea for Blackbeard in December 2006. It took until the end of the WGA strike for the pair to get the project moving by hiring Franzoni.

Croce is also a motivational speaker and judge on reality show American Inventor.

Franzoni was nominated for a best screenplay Oscar in 2001 for his work on Gladiator. His other scripts include Amistad and King Arthur.