Master And Commander Prequel Writer, Plot Possibilities, Development Details And More

At the moment, there are no actors and no director attached to the "Master and Commander" prequel. However, we do know who's penning the screenplay, and it's an incredibly accomplished writer: Patrick Ness.

Young Adult and sci-fi fans probably know Ness best as the author of "Chaos Walking," which he also adapted into the movie starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland. He also won the Carnegie Medal for his dark fantasy novel "A Monster Calls," which he turned into a movie featuring Liam Neeson. In other words, Ness is pretty skilled at adapting books for the big screen, but what's the status of his "Master and Commander" screenplay?

After we initially learned Ness was acting as the prequel's scribe, we didn't get any updates for years. But then, in June 19, 2023, Ness took to X (formerly known as Twitter) during the WGA strike and shed a little light on the film's status. As he put it, "For those of you who keep asking: I've had the best studio experience of my life working on 'Master and Commander.' There's a needed strike now, and nothing is ever guaranteed, but it's been wonderful so far."

In September 2023, Ness returned to X with more "Master and Commander" news. Fortunately, this update was much more positive, with the WGA strike over and the screenwriter saying he was back at work at the script. Or as he colorfully put it, "I'm basically running across a flower-strewn meadow, back into the arms of 'Master & Commander,' grateful we're both alive, so glad to see each other again, finding a handy bush to shag in... War is over."