Russell Crowe to star in historical drama ‘In Sand and Blood’

Saul Dibb, whose credits include Michelle Williams’ “Suite Francaise”, Keira Knightley’s “The Duchess”, is directing.

The story became known due to a memoir by American sea captain James Riley, who detailed how he and his crew were captured in Africa after being shipwrecked in 1815 off the desolate coast of the Sahara.

The book was published in 1817 as “Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce” and republished as “Sufferings in Africa”, which included being captured and enslaved by marauding natives.

Crowe made his directorial debut in “The Water Diviner” this year and will be seen next with Ryan Gosling in Shane Black’s thriller “The Nice Guys”.