If you didn’t already think that superstarDwayne Johnsonwas busy enough, the A-list action icon just added yet another project to his growing slate. The actor has been attached to a new action-thriller entitledSkyscraper, which sparked a bidding war eventually won by Legendary Pictures. The actor is set to reunite with hisCentral Intelligencewriter-directorRawson Marshall Thurber, who wrote the screenplay and direct.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, Legendary emerged victorious paying at least $3 million alone forRawson Marshall Thurber’s script. The writer is attached to direct, withDwayne Johnsonstarring and producing alongside his longtime collaboratorBeau Flynn, who he’s worked with onJourney 2: The Mysterious Island,San Andreas,Herculesand next year’sBaywatch, just to name a few. Legendary beat out bids from Universal, Sony and Paramount after this script hit the market earlier this week.
The story will take place in China, described as aDie Hard-type action-thriller that takes place in a “mega-skyscraper” inside the country. The project is said to have shades of disater classics likeThe Towering Inferno, although no details were given about what characterThe Rockwill be playing. Universal Pictures will distribute through its deal with Legendary Pictures.
Rawson Marshall Thurberwill also produce alongsideDwayne JohnsonandBeau Flynn, withWendy Jacobsonoverseeing the project forBeau Flynn’s FlynnPictureCo. This project marks the second script sale of over $3 million in the past few months. Back in March, Netflix won a similar bidding war forMax Landis' scriptBright, with the streaming servicing paying $3 million for the script and committing $90 million for the budget.Will Smithhas been attached to star, withDavid Ayer(Suicide Squad) set to direct.
No production schedule was given forSkyscraper, and it isn’t clear if Legendary and Universal are targeting a release date.Dwayne Johnsonis currently reprising his role asHobbsinFast & Furious 8and he will start filming the highly-anticipated remakeJumanjithis fall. Other projects on the actor’s slate includeSan Andreas 2, the video game adaptationRampageand a remake ofBig Trouble in Little China. We’ll keep you posted with more onSkyscraperas soon as more details are made available.
