After showing up as a college frat boy in this month’s Bad Neighbours, Dave Franco is ready to enter the world of cinematic work, albeit with a twist. Sony has bought the rights to The Intern’s Handbook and is looking at putting Franco front and centre{
**22 Jump Street **contributor Oren Uziel is aboard to adapt Shane Kuhn’s recent novel, which focuses on HR, Inc., a company that specialises in placing interns in big companies. But the hidden agenda in HR’s strategy is that it’s actually a network of assassins that target high profile executives. We knew that Empire's intern was looking at us funny.
If it all works out, Franco will be John Lago, the best the company has to offer both in terms of photocopying skills and body count. His latest job is at a Manhattan law firm, where he’s busy gathering the info he needs before he takes out his latest target. There’s just one problem: a female FBI agent is investigating the same man John is assigned to kill, and when sparks fly, things get more complicated.
Kuhn is planning a trilogy of books, which means Sony and prolific producer Neal Moritz are also contemplating a franchise featuring the 21 Jump Street / Warm Bodies actor.
"We really feel like he's the next star," Moritz tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We just think he has immense talent as a leading man, and he's someone who can do humour. He's paid his dues. He's built a great resume of co-starring roles, and he's ready to be a lead. He's not some guy being plucked from nowhere and told he's the next big thing."
Franco will reprise his role as Eric for** 22 Jump Street**, which crashes into our cinemas on June 6. He’s also in Nick Frost/Vince Vaughn comedy Unfinished Business, which arrives here on March 6 next year.