By Justin Kroll
October 14, 2013
After helping revive several franchises, Dwayne Johnson is ready to jumpstart a fresh property as he is set to star in New Line’s 3D disaster pic “San Andreas.”
Brad Peyton is attached to direct with “The Conjuring” scribes Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes writing the most recent draft that went to the greenlight committee. A previous draft was written by Carlton Cuse.
Jeremy Passmore and Andre Fabrizio sold the original pitch based on an original idea by Beau Flynn.
Story takes place when a massive quake strikes California and centers on one man who must make the treacherous journey across the state to rescue his estranged daughter.
The “San Andreas” project has been in development since 2011 with New Line-based Flynn producing through his FlynnPictureCo. banner with Tripp Vinson.
Johnson is shooting “Hercules” for MGM and Paramount (that Flynn is also producing and Brett Ratner isdirecting) before jumping into lensing on “Fast & Furious 7′′ in Atlanta. The plan is to move into production on “San Andreas” in the first quarter of 2014.
New Line and Johnson previously worked together on “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” with the studiodeveloping a third installment. It’s unknown where things stand right now with Johnson and that third installment as Johnson and New Line are focused on getting the schedule straightened out for “San Andreas” before moving over to “Journey 3.”
There is a reason New Line is happy to stay in business with Johnson after his hugely successful 2012.Johnson has appeared in four films so far this year (‘Snitch,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “Pain &Gain” and “Furious 6′′) with “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “Furious 6′′ becoming the top-earning installment in both franchises.
“San Andreas” is looked at as one of New Line’s top priorities with franchise potential and if a deal closeswould give Johnson yet another high-profile property to add to his resume.
Johnson is also staying busy on the TV front with his TNT reality show “The Hero” wrapping up its first season. He wrapped production on the untitled HBO pilot about athletes in Miami that Mark Wahlberg is producing.
He is repped by WME, manager Dany Garcia and Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown. Verve reps Peyton. Passmore and Fabrizio are represented by Paradigm Talent Agency, Aperture Entertainment and attorney Rob Szymanski.