SAMUEL L. JACKSON TO STAR IN 'NEGOTIATOR 2: SOMALI SHOWDOWN'

Samuel L. Jackson is set to star as Andrew Mwangura, the freelance journalist and hostage negotiator, who recently played go-between when Somali pirates took several ships hostage.

Mwangura is also an ex-marine engineer who runs the Seafarers' Assistance Programme, a nonprofit group that offers humanitarian aid to all seafarers. He earned the trust of both sides and brokered a deal to recover the crew and cargo for $3.4 million.

Jackson is set to work with producer Andras Hamori on the film. The pair previously worked together on the ill-fated, yet somewhat funny film The 51st State and Running Wild - a flick about a massacre in a gated community, still in pre-production.

Meanwhile, Jackson is shooting Iron Man 2 appearing as Nick Fury, but he'll hopefully have time on set to practice for his role.

- Words by Kevin L. Clark