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Master and Commander is Billy's next major film after LOTR. Based on the 10th book is a series of 20 written by Patrick O'Brian, it's being directed by Peter Weir and 'A Beautiful Mind' stars Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany have been confirmed to star. Filming will start this June in Mexico, and a 2003 release can be expected. 

Billy plays the part of Barrett Bondon (Coxswain to Captain Jack Aubrey - Russell Crowe) in the 19th Century Navy Drama -

"Based upon the 10th novel (of 20) in the Master and Commander series by the late Patrick O'Brian. All were set during the early 19th century Napoleonic Wars, and center on the high seas adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his ship surgeon Stephen Maturin (also a spy). One report of the movie's synopsis was this: "The War of 1812 continues, and Jack Aubrey sets course for Cape Horn on a mission after his own heart: intercepting a powerful American frigate outward bound to play havoc with the British whaling trade. Little do he and Maturin know that disaster awaits them in the Great South Sea: typhoons, shipwrecks, murder, and criminal insanity."

The first time Bondon is included in the books is in Master and Commander [pg 246] in the following passage (thanks to O'Brien and Pipkin for the translation)

“’Send my coxswain aft, will you?’ (Jack Aubrey) said, returning to his cabin after he had taken half a dozen uneasy turns.  
Barret Bonden, coxswain and captain of the maintop, was unusually young for his post; a fine open-looking creature, tough without brutality, cheerful, perfectly in his place and, of course, a prime seaman—bred to the sea from childhood.
‘Sit down, Bonden,’ said Jack, a little consciously, for what he was about to offer was the quarter-deck, no less, and the possibility of advancement to the very pinnacle of the sailor’s hierarchy.  ‘I have been thinking…should you like to be a rated midshipman?’
 ‘Why, no sir, not at all,’ answered Bonden at once, his teeth flashing in the gloom.  ‘But I thank you very kindly for your good opinion, sir.’
 ‘Oh,’ said Jack, taken aback.  ‘Why not?’  
 ‘I ain’t got the learning, sir. Why’—laughing cheerfully—‘it’s all I can do to read the watch-list, spelling it out slow; and I’m too old to wear round now.  And then, sir, what should I look like, rigged out like an officer?  Jack-in-the-green: and my old messmates laughing up their sleeves and calling out “What ho, the hawse-hole.”’
 ‘Plenty of fine officers began on the lower deck,’ said Jack.  ‘I was on the lower deck myself, once,’ he added, regretting the sequence as soon as he had uttered it.
 ‘I know you was, sir,’ said Bonden, and his grin flashed again.
 ‘How did you know that?’
 ‘We got a cove in the starboard watch, was shipmates with you, sir, in the old Reso, off the Cape.’
 ‘Oh dear, oh dear,’ cried Jack inwardly, ‘and I never noticed him.  So there I was, turning all the women ashore as righteous as Pompous Pilate, and they knew all the time…well, well.’  And aloud, with a certain stiffness, ‘Well, Bonden, think of what I have said.  It would be a pity to stand in your own way.’  
 ‘If I may make so bold, sir,’ said Bonden, getting to his feet and standing there, suddenly constrained, lumpish and embarrassed, ‘there’s my Aunt Sloper’s George—George Luthingy, foretopman, larboard watch.  He’s a right scholar, can write so small you can scarcely see it; younger nor I am, and more soople, sir, oh, far more soople.’
 ‘Luthingy?’ said Jack dubiously.  ‘He’s only a lad.  Was he not flogged last week?’
 ‘Yes, sir: but it was only his gun had won again.  And he couldn’t hold back from his draught, not in duty to the giver.’
 ‘Well, said Jack, reflecting that perhaps there might be wiser prizes than a bottle [though none so valued], ‘I will keep an eye on him.’”

Below are some very useful links -
Official site [or lack of]
Buy the book
Author fan page
Upcoming movies.com
Movie.go.com
Imdb
Film fan page [very informative]