 The rights to Hornblower were originally acquired by Warners with  Errol Flynn in mind but after the financial failure of "The  Adventures of Don Juan" in 1948 and growing difficulties with the  actor, he was not cast. Warners was already building up Burt  Lancaster as their new swashbuckler, but the role of a British sea  captain seemed out of his range, so Peck was ultimately cast.