Aside from a quick side trip into family-friendly adventure for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Dwayne Johnson has spent the last couple of years sticking to big action with the likes of Fast Fiv****e, Faster and the delayed G.I. Joe: Retaliation. But it appears he may be looking to get back into comedy – albeit macho comedy – for a possible project, as he’s loosely attached to Dan Mintner: Badass For Hire.
The Wrap reports that the film, written by Chad Kultgen, has been sitting doing squat thrusts in the development gym for a few years now, ever since New Line picked it up in 2008. Lesbian Vampire Killers director Phil Claydon was attached to possibly shoot it, but that attempt appears to have gone nowhere (which will probably be a relief to anyone who has seen Lesbian Vampire Killers).
It certainly sounds like a plot The Rock could pull off: the world’s biggest badass (think a combo of all the Expendables, but with more testosterone and extra shots of people being kicked in the genitals) has to rescue a kidnapped billionaire while showing off just how tough he is.
If we have a concern it’s that this sort of film really needs to hit the right tone and balance. If you slip into parody too much, you end up with something like MacGruber, which really didn’t work. Still, right now it’s all just being considered, though New Line apparently wants to have it shooting next year. Since Johnson is already likely to be at work on Journey 3, there’s a chance he could be convinced to squeeze this one in too – assuming he likes the script.
Johnson is currently in London fitting in filming on **Fast Six **in between comedically threatening co-star Tyrese and working out at the gym in true Team Bring It style.