In the wrestling ring, Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. The Rock) and John Cena have been rivals for years. Now they will team up for a big-screen action-thriller.
Cena will star in The Janson Directive; Johnson will serve as an executive producer, per Variety. Universal Pictures will distribute the film. What else do we know about the project so far?
What's the story?
It's based on a novel by Robert Ludlum, who created the character of Jason Bourne in a series of books. Published in 2002, a year after Ludlum died, it follows a former Navy SEAL turned covert agent who has become a corporate security consultant with a very good reputation. Shockingly, he is framed for the death of a billionaire he was hired to rescue and pursued by former government colleagues who have been ordered to kill him.
Wasn't Johnson originally intended to star?
Yes, that was the original plan, dating back to 2014. The idea was to create an interconnected cinema universe based on Ludlum's spy thrillers; The Janson Directive was intended to launch the franchise.
That still appears to be the plan. Variety reports, however, that Johnson's schedule has become so busy that it was decided to enlist another actor to star, with Johnson still attached as producer. Johnson is happy with the decision, as he made clear on social media.
Is Cena a good pick for the lead role?
Like Johnson, Cena started off with starring performances in action movies (The Marine, 12 Rounds), but he's also shown his versatility with a noteworthy supporting comic performance opposite Amy Schumer in Judd Apatow's Trainwreck. Recently he made a strong impression in a lead comic role as an overly protective father in Blockers.
Clearly, he's still in great physical shape. Also, he hasn't been seen in an action role for a while now, so it's a great time for him to be showcased in a spy thriller.
What's next?
James Vanderbilt (Independence Day: Resurgence) has been working on the screenplay with Akiva Goldsman (The Dark Tower). With Cena signed on, the next step is to find a director.
