It's been a while since we last heard an update about the proposed Baywatch movie, with Dwayne Johnson signing on to star all the way back in October of last year. Well, today the film took a huge step forward, and looks like it will actually become a reality, as new reports say that Seth Gordon is now in talks to direct. Dwayne Johnson is attached to topline the pic, which will update the beloved show for modern times.
David Hasselhoff, Pam Anderson, Yasmin Bleeth, Carmen Electra and David Chokach were among those who starred in the slo-mo-happy series, which always had a light and silly vibe. The movie take is said to find Johnson playing a by-the-book lifeguard who is forced to team up with a young, carefree daredevil in order to save their beach from an oil tycoon primed to destroy the environment. Nailing the tone for a Baywatch movie has proven exceptionally difficult for Paramount, which has sent over a dozen writers packing over the years.
Now, though, the studio and producer Beau Flynn (a frequent collaborator of Johnson's) believe that they've finally got it right. Word has it that the project is emulating the 21 Jump Street movies, hoping to marry reverence for the original with an action-comedy bent and lots of silly humor.
Gordon has proven himself a highly capable comedy helmer who can handle high-octane thrills. In addition to helming Horrible Bosses and documentary The King of Kong, he's also behind Melissa McCarthy-Jason Bateman comedy Identity Thief. A bigger studio production like Baywatch feels like a natural progression. Take the essential elements from the show - in this case beaches, red shorts, skin - and translate all drama through a comedic, self-aware filter.
The movie is already halfway there thanks to the fact that it has Dwayne Johnson attached to play the lead role. Paramount is hoping to get Gordon on board and well-versed in the story so that production on Baywatch can get rolling early in 2016, keeping it on track to accommodate The Rock's busy schedule.
