John Malkovich is doing a Johnny Depp and signing up to play a pirate in his later years. He's already played a musketeer, so surely swashbuckling is the logical next step eh?

US network NBC have adapted Colin Woodward's 'The Republic of Pirates' for the telly y'see, and Malkovich will be playing Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. And believe it or not, this is going to be his TV debut.

The Hollywood Reporter says the ten part live action drama series will be re-titled Crossbones, and will be set in the 1700s. Based in the Bahamian Island of New Providence, the series will follow the two-time Oscar winner's character as and his band of mischievous men get up to all sorts.

Things get even more interesting when Tom Lowe, an undercover assassin, is sent to take the infamous leader down. Seems even this skilled killer isn't immune to the charms of the pirate community.

There's still no word about when the project will hit the small screen, but it's definitely one to watch out for!