As we previously reported, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was in the running to helm Brett Ratner’s Hercules. Now Johnson has officially signed on for the titular role of Ratner’s Hercules film and has also signed on to do an adaptation of the graphic novel Ciudad.
Many fans are excited about the change in career choices that Dwayne Johnson has been making as The Rock is choosing more action films rather than Tooth Fairy 2. With Faster and Fast Five under his belt, as well as the upcoming G.I. Joe:Retaliation and Pain and Gain, Johnson is going back to his action roots for these 2 films.
Ciudad is an action-thriller adaptation of the upcoming Oni Press graphic novel of the same name.
Set in one of the most dangerous and corrupt cities in the world, the thriller will star Johnson as a black market mercenary hired by a Brazilian drug lord to rescue his kidnapped daughter. It is being said to be in the vein of Man on Fire and Taken. The story is supposed to be more acting/character driven, rather than an action extravaganza.
Ciudad will be directed and adapted by the two filmmakers who co-wrote it, Joe and Anthony Russo. Surprisingly, they aren’t known for action films as their last film was the comedy, You, Me and Dupree. They have also produced and directed both Arrested Development and Community, which may be a glimmer of hope as far as the writing for the upcoming film.
As mentioned before, Johnson will also headline the adaptation of Steve Moore’s 2008 graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Wars. Production is set to start this October in New Zealand.