A Variety report from November outlined the basics of Ocean Warrior, a biopic about Captain Paul Watson, eco-pirate and star of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars. Now, Bleeding Cool reports that Watson himself has confirmed the casting of his role: Ewan McGregor. 
Whale Wars chronicles Watson’s controversial Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they wage dangerous high-seas war against illegal Japanese whaling vessels. The film, described as an action-thriller, would cover Watson’s early days with Greenpeace and the formation of his organization.
Ecorazzi has pulled this quote from Watson from somewhere on the Planet Ocean Alliance forum (there is no exact lead to where Watson wrote this):
The making of this movie has been a project in Hollywood since 1981 when Tony Bill first bought the rights from me for Warner Brothers. The option rights have been purchased every year but now finally it looks promising, with a written script and serious pre-production work. Over the years a number of actors have requested to play my part including Sean Penn, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aiden Quinn, Rutger Hauer, Clive Owens etc. As of now it looks like Ewan McGregor. I think he will do a good job, although I would love to see long time Sea Shepherd supporter Christian Bale take the part. As for a leading lady my favourite actress has always been Sophie Marceau, but the choice is not mine unfortunately.
If this project makes it off the ground, it could theoretically revive the pirate-movie genre beyond Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise while making a green-themed action-thriller a viable concept (Avatar stands apart due to its creator, James Cameron – every time he makes a movie these days, it has to be an event).
Does this sound like a good fit for Ewan McGregor?