Paramount Moves Forward With 'Baywatch' Movie (Exclusive)

This is Hollywood’s reigning action hero, an ambitious wrestler turned actor, as smart as he is supple, as driven as he is dynamic.  Combining several traits of the ’90s action stars — the wit of Willis, the strength of Schwarzenegger, the heart of Stallone — he’s become the go-to guy for studios anxious to reboot their franchises. 

Dwayne Johnson is set to star, and Sean Anders and John Morris ('Horrible Bosses 2') are attached to direct

Paramount is moving forward with its big-screen adaptation of Baywatch and has nabbed Dwayne Johnson for beach patrol duties.  The studio also has hired Justin Malen to rewrite and has attached the hot comedy writing team of Sean Anders and John Morris (We're the Millers) to direct. 

Montecito Pictures is producing along with Beau Flynn.  Tripp Vinson is executive producing.  Hiram Garcia, who is Johnson's producing partner, will serve in some producing capacity. 

Johnson has long been rumored to head up a Baywatch movie, and the oft-shirtless star would seem a perfect fit for the action film that takes place along the perilous shores of Santa Monica.  In fact, the Fast & Furious star is no stranger to showing off his abs as he did in the titular role in Hercules, which opened in July.  Johnson was just loosely attached to the film, but he confirmed his involvement via the below two tweets on Thursday evening and Friday morning. 

"This is my beach bitch!"  Rumors are true... we're making #BAYWATCH the movie.  Edgy, raunchy and… http://t.co/HQm0bra6cJ — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 3, 2014

In an Instagram caption, Johnson added, that he hopes the film will be "funny as all hell.  Cue slo mo running on the beach..."

Read more The Drive (and Despair) of The Rock

Paramount has been trying to mount a Baywatch movie for years and has begun to ramp up its efforts.  A number of previous writers have taken a crack at the script including Jeremy Garelick and Peter Tolan.  At one point the action was set to revolve around a series of shark attacks that led the Baywatch team to investigate a drug-smuggling operation.  It is unclear what Malen's take will be for the latest version. 

Malen has become an in-demand writer after his 2011 Blacklist script Bastards became a hot comedy property.  Montecito will produce that film, and Alcon will finance.  Malen also wrote the sequel to Bad Teacher for Sony, with Cameron Diaz attached to star. 

Read more Why Theater Owners Aren't Happy About Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' Film Initiative

Johnson, who recently shot the action film San Andreas for producer Flynn as well as Fast & Furious 7, is repped by WME, manager Dany Garcia of The Garcia Companies and attorneys Bianca Levin and Harold Brown. 

Malen is handled by Verve and DMG Entertainment. 

Anders and Morris, whose writing credits include Horrible Bosses 2, are represented by Mosaic and attorney Todd Rubenstein. 

Paramount declined to comment. 

Email: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com

Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27

Oct. 3, 9:14 a.m. This story has been updated to reflect Johnson confirming his involvement via Twitter and Instagram.