Captain of Hijacked Maersk Alabama Close to Major Book Deal
By Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly, 5/18/2009 4:45:00 PM
It looks as though Capt. Richard Phillips's book deal is imminent. The leader of the Maersk Alabama, who became a media sensation last month after he gave himself as a hostage to Somali pirates to save his crew (and was later rescued by U.S. forces), is at the center of a bidding war. Phillips's life rights are being handled by CAA and a number of publishers were bidders in an auction that got underway late last week. We hear the price for the seaman's story has already reached $500,000 and could go well beyond that. We also hear that two houses are still fighting it out. A rep from CAA did not respond to inquiries about the deal.
Since "hero" airline pilot Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed over $3 million from Morrow for his story, it wouldn't be shocking if Phillips walks away with more than $1 million.
