Dwayne Johnsonis set to lead an untitled throwback action comedy from directorWill Gluck(Easy A) and writerDave Callaham(The Expendables) that will take its cues from mismatched buddy action comedies likeLethal Weapon,48 Hrs.andMidnight Run. Johnson will also produce through his Seven Bucks banner alongside Gluck and his San Andreas producerBeau Flynn. PerDeadline, the project landed at New Line after a competitive bidding situation that saw three studios gunning for the project.
The acquisition is a big win for New Line, whose previous collaboration with Johnson and Flynn onSan Andreasled to the studios biggest hit of 2015 (and Warner Bros' biggest hit of the year as well), grossing $474 million worldwide. New Line plans to fast track the project in the hopes that it will launch a new franchise vehicle for Johnson, who seems to have pretty good thing going on with the studio. TheSan Andreascrewrecently reunited at New LineforRampage, which will see Johnson re-team with Flynn and director Brad Peyton for the monsterpocalyptic action flick.
There’s no official logline for Gluck’s buddy actioner yet, but Johnson did tweet confirmation of the ’80s-inspired nature of the project saying “Excited to make this (produce & star) for you guys. ThinkLethal Weaponmeets48 Hrs,” and hash tagging “throwback”. Gluck’s best movie to date, theEmma Stoneled romantic comedyEasy Ahad a pretty heavy 1980s influence, so it’s easy to see how he might put his stamp on the odd couple buddy flicks of the era. Gluck is also currently working on the live action/animation hybridPeter Rabbit.
In addition to Rampage, Johnson and Flynn are also currently working on the Seth Gordon-directed R-rated Baywatch movie for Paramount, which Johnson will star in alongsideZac EfronandAlexandra Daddario. Jonson will next be seen inCentral IntelligencewithKevin Hartand heard as the voice of Maui in the Disney animated featureMoana. He’s also gotFurious 8andShazam!on the docket because there’s no such thing as too much Dwayne Johnson.
