For a film where slo-mo shots of impossibly attractive stars running along the beach will likely take precedent, Paramount’s casting could not be more on point for its long-gestating Baywatch movie. Now that the studio has nailed down Dwayne Johnson, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that We Are Your Friends heartthrob Zac Efron could be in line to star opposite the former WWE wrestler.
After lingering on the brink of development for years at this point, today’s news is more evidence that the project is finally beginning to get the wheels in motion, especially after securing Horrible Bosses helmer Seth Gordon to direct. Citing the recent and overly successful 21 Jump Street series as a tonal touchpoint, Paramount’s Baywatch will see Johnson play the part of a famed and diligent lifeguard who must team up with a younger care-free daredevil (Efron, we assume) in order to protect the beach from the leering hands of a rich oil tycoon looking to cause environment pain for personal gain.
Directing from a script by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, Seth Gordon has married silly humor with a likeable cast in Horrible Bosses, while Johnson proved his comedic side in Michael Bay’s riotous actioner Pain & Gain. In terms of Efron, the actor played against type in Neighbors with Seth Rogen, and Baywatch could act as the logical next step in his Channing Tatum-like journey from musclebound heartthrob to bona fide comedy star.
Should everything fall into place, Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron will be saving lives as the best Californian lifeguards in the business when Baywatch releases at some point in 2017. Efron can next be seen in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Warner Bros.’ EDM-centric flick, We Are Your Friends.
