Shiver me timbers! John Malkovich undergoes drastic makeover to play Blackbeard in new pirate series Crossbones

He is not used to having long flowing hair or sailing the seven seas.

But John Malkovich will have to get used to the grey wig he has to wear to play notorious pirate Blackbeard in new TV series Crossbones.

The 60-year-old actor – known for being largely bald on top – has also been tasked with growing his grey goatee beard to portray the 18th century villain.

Ooh Arr: John Malkovich has long grey hair and a goatee beard for his portrayal of 18th century pirate Blackbeard

Walk the plank: John has to wear a long pirate neck cravat over a baggy white top to portray the villain

As well as the transformation of his tresses, the Transformers: Dark of the Moon actor was seen wearing a long pirate neck cravat over a baggy white top, and his alter-ego’s look is completed with black trousers and brown boots on the set of the project this week.

Malkovich is currently shooting the NBC show in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and while his character’s attire may not be what he’s used to, he did have a familiar face on set as he was accompanied by his partner Nicoletta Peyran.

Other stars of the upcoming show, which is due to premiere this spring and is set in and around the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, include Covert Affairs actor Richard Coyle.

Going grey: John has grown his goatee beard for his new role and looks slightly uncomfortable as he gets to grips with his attire



I have to wear what? John Malkovich takes instruction from a crew member on the set of Crossbones

The 41-year-old star will play assassin Tom Lowe, who sets about trying to bring about the demise of Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach.

The fact-based drama is set in 1715, just three years before Blackbeard died, and is based on the book The Republic of Pirates, which was written by Colin Woodard.

Production on the show began in October 2013 and executive producer Walter F. Parkes admits Malkovich has proved to be a ‘very easy and good fit’ for the role.



Getting ready to sail the seven seas: John was accompanied on set by his partner Nicoletta Peyran

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly magazine, he said: ‘Well, that combination of intelligence and lethality, and yet a kind of emotional accessibility, which I think is sort of what his whole career’s been about.



‘Those are qualities that you can’t pretend to have; they have to be part of the DNA of the actor himself. And so it was a very, very easy and good fit.

‘For someone who has such a mysterious, iconic identity as an actor, John is really professional, and has been quite a joy to work with.’



British actresses Claire Foy and Tracy Ifeachor, former Neighbours actor David Hoflin, Fight Club star Ezra Buzzington and Irish actor Kevin Ryan will also star in the series.