Russell Crowe starred in a 2003 tactical war movie intended to start a new franchise, but despite 17 more books to adapt, it ended with just one release. The movie is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and stars Crowe as Jack Aubrey, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship's surgeon. The film was a passion project for Fox executive Tom Rothman, who brought in Peter Weir (The Truman Show) to direct it.