"Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy helmer Gore Verbinski has been tapped to direct a Universal acquired project from scriptwriter Michael Gilio.

The project is being set up under the director's Blind Wink Production Banner.

Initially named "Black Hole," the untitled script focuses on a retired rancher who loses life life savings after being swindled by a phone solicitor company.

Blind Wink's Jonathan Krauss told Variety, "The script tags into the shaken trust the public has toward once-trusted institutions and examines how the people behind these institutions are sometimes themselves as much victims of the same blind trust."

Verbinski will produce the film with Krauss and Scott Aversano.