Dwayne Johnson is looking to follow up his eye-catching role in 2013’s outrageous Pain & Gain with fellow action-comedy Central Intelligence, after the wrestler-turned-moviestar has signed on to star in New Line’s project alongside comedian Kevin Hart.
According to the report by Variety, the film will be directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball, We Are The Millers), and has been described as the studio’s 21 Jump Street-styled move into the buddy comedy genre.
Hardest workin’ man in the room, talkin’ to… the other hardest workin’ man in the room… http://t.co/Fdfq8ZE5YM
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 8, 2014
I see you big fella….The world is not ready for what we are about to hit them with @TheRock ……Let’s … http://t.co/qp4uOq7To1
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) November 8, 2014
In fact, Central Intelligence will even go so far as to involve a high school reunion, one which sees Hart’s character — a former big name sports star (or jock, if you will) who is now a successful account — contacted by an old associate on the eve of the big event. As it happens, that associate turns out to be Dwayne Johnson’s former classmate who, despite being a bullied loser in high school, is now a highly-successful contract killer for the CIA who turns to Hart’s cocky persona in search of help to uncover a plot to sell classified military secrets.
Having first appeared on the scene in 2009, Central Intelligence has went through the rounds since it was picked up at Universal, including a short stint under Horrible Bosses 2‘s creative pairing Sean Anders and John Morris. Now, though, New Line’s buddy comedy will be redrafted by Thurber himself, with Scott Stuber and Ed Helms (who worked with the director on We Are The Millers) on board to produce.
We understand that Central Intelligence will bring together Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart for a bout of bombastic goodness when the film enters production in spring.