(GIN) – Uppity Films, the production company of Oscarnominated Samuel L Jackson's has secured rights to the real life story of Andrew Mwangura, Kenyan pirate negotiator.
Head of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program for over 12 years, Mwangura, 47, works without pay to track down missing ships, investigate deaths at sea and negotiate the release of hostages.
'There are lots of people making money from piracy who would like us out of business,'' he says. He survives by working as freelance writer on the side. Somalia's 2,000-mile coastline is one of the most dangerous in the world for shipping.
Mwangura, who trained as a marine engineer, runs without the help of a secretary, offi ces or computers. ''We don't have any of that,'' he says. ''We send a little text message, and then suddenly it's big news, with CNN and the BBC calling.''
Asked about the possible biopic starring Jackson, Mwangura said: “I don't want Pirates of the Caribbean. I am a living man, and you can't say lies about a living man ... I am what I am– someone who does things for forgotten people and the community."