Russell Crowe to star in historical drama 'In Sand and Blood'

Actor Russell Crowe will star in the survival drama "In Sand and Blood", set in Africa in the early 19th century.

The project has been in development since 2010 with "Public Enemies" writer Ronan Bennett penning the script, based on Dean King's non-fiction book "Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival".

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 western 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.

Riley was able to persuade an Arab trader to buy him and some of his men, then bluffed him into believing the trader would receive more money for him from a European official in a Moroccan port - which is what took place.

The film is being produced by Luc Roeg, while Stuart Ford is the executive producer.