Spielberg producing Crichton 'Pirate' film

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Hollywood's DreamWorks Studios has acquired the rights to the late Michael Crichton's last manuscript, a 17th century pirate yarn.

Variety said Steven Spielberg will produce and may direct the big-screen adaptation of "Pirate Latitudes," a novel to be published Nov. 24. Crichton, the author of "The Andromeda Strain," "Jurassic Park" and "Congo," died last November.

David Koepp, who penned the movies "The Paper," "Mission: Impossible," "Spider-Man," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," "Angels & Demons" and "The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3," is writing the "Pirate" screenplay and production is set to begin early next year, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

"Michael Crichton was one of our greatest storytellers, who expanded all of our imaginations with his books, films and television," Spielberg told Variety.