Written by on May 31, 2012. Posted in On Location

Tom Hanks’ Captain Phillips feature to film on location in Virginia Beach

Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks’ new feature, will be filming on location in Virginia. Virginia Beach is the home base for the guided missile destroyer Bainbridge, which was part of the operation to rescue Phillips when he was taken hostage by Somali pirates in 2009.

The film tells the true story of Phillips, a cargo ship skipper who offered himself as a prisoner to pirates in exchange for his crew’s freedom when his ship was hijacked in the Indian Ocean. Phillips was held hostage for nearly a week until US Navy SEALs rescued him on President Obama’s orders.

Bob McDonnell is Governor of Virginia: “We in Virginia take great pride in the Navy's presence within our state and are delighted to support this film that acclaims the significant contributions made by the US Navy and the strength and courage of the men and women who serve in the U.S. armed forces.

“Our investments in the job-creating film industry continue to pay off for the citizens of Virginia.”

We look forward to filming in Virginia because of its proximity and accessibility to the Atlantic Ocean, and as a vital base for the US Navy.

Paul Greengrass

Paul Greengrass is directing: "We look forward to filming in Virginia because of its proximity and accessibility to the Atlantic Ocean, and as a vital base for the US Navy."

Hanks and director Paul Greengrass have spent recent weeks filming on location in Malta, using a tanker on the open ocean and the country’s world-famous water tank facilities. The region has been doubling for the Indian Ocean, where the hijacking originally took place.