Captain Phillips is a Paul Greengrass directorial that revolves around the hijacking of a ship by the Somali pirates. Captain Richard Phillips takes charge and negotiates with the pirates who eventually take him hostage on a lifeboat. The U.S. Navy SEALs begin a rescue operation, and it turns into a high-risk, high-stakes situation. So, is Captain Phillips based on a true story, and can you expect to come across any real events and facts while watching this thrilling movie?
Is Captain Phillips based on a true story?
Yes, Captain Phillips is based on a true story. Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty’s non-fiction book titled, ‘A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea’ serves as the source material for the film. The filmmakers closely follow the sequence of events during the 2009 hijacking when Captain Richard Phillips reportedly assumed command of the MV Maersk Alabama.
The crew went for a practice drill on the ship and Phillips noticed that the Somali pirates were tailing them. From the initial boarding of the pirates on the ship to the rescue operation of the U.S. Navy, the narrative largely remains faithful to the actual events that transpired in the Indian Ocean.
Captain Phillips’ real events and facts explained
Captain Phillips features numerous real events such as Richard taking command of the ship, which was an unarmed container vessel, that only sailed for a trial drill from the Port of Salalah in Oman to Mombasa, Kenya. They also showcase why and how practice drills were conducted and carried out, and it was largely due to the pirate threats off the coast of the Horn of Africa. When Richard noticed the first hijacking attempt, he pretended to call for immediate air support, which led to the pirates prolonging their attack time. However, the pirates boarded the ship and the crew had to face the dangerous and armed highjackers.
Negotiations between the U.S. Navy and pirates started to heat up when Richard was taken as a hostage on a lifeboat. A large rescue operation and a dramatic intervention by USS Bainbridge and Navy SEALs was the only saving grace. Richard was rescued after three DEVGRU marksmen simultaneously shot down three pirates. Their leader, Abduwali Muse, was arrested for piracy and Richard thanked the crew for bringing him to safety.
The real people behind Captain Phillips’s characters
The characters in Captain Phillips are based on real-life individuals such as Captain Phillips, who was the actual captain during the hijacking. Besides, Abduwali Muse was the actual leader of the Somali pirates who led the devious operation. The other Somali pirates were also inspired by real-life individuals who were a part of the pirate crew that hijacked the ship. Other crew members who were boarding the ship officially were First Officer Shane Murphy and Chief Engineer Mike Perry, and their characters are also featured in the film.
Is Captain Richard Phillips a real person?
Captain Richard Phillips is a real-life mariner who exhibited remarkable leadership during the confrontation with Somali pirates. His act of offering himself as a hostage to protect his crew will always be remembered as among the most heroic ones. He became a public figure after he co-authored his memoir and people came to know about his stories of courage and resilience.
Is Abduwali Muse a real person?
Abduwali Muse is a real person, who was arrested for being a Somali pirate leader and hijacking the MV Maersk Alabama. He had a major role in hijacking the ship and carrying out the interactions, for which, he faced legal consequences and was arrested by U.S authorities.
