Ryan Reynolds Actioner The Hitman’s Bodyguard Targets New Director

Ryan Reynolds-fronted actioner The Hitman’s Bodyguard has placed its crosshairs on a new director, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Before a recent scheduling conflict scupper plans, Jeff Wadlow had been attached to helm the starry thriller, which already boasts Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Daredevil starlet Elodie Yung and Gary Oldman. But one filmmaker that’s well versed in dealing with star-studded lineups is The Expendables 3‘s Patrick Hughes, and that’s exactly the man that will be taking over for Wadlow at the helm.

Featuring a screenplay by Tom O’Connor, The Hitman’s Bodyguard places Ryan Reynolds in the shoes of the best bodyguard in the business. His latest gig is anything but ordinary, after he’s approached by an assassin and old rival looking to forfeit a boatload of evidence. Begrudgingly, Reynolds’ hired gun teams with his frenemy, as the pair set about fending off villains from left, right and center.

Set for a globe-trotting adventure across London, Amsterdam and Bulgaria, The Hitman’s Bodyguard is to be produced by Mark Gill, John Thompson, Matt O’Toole and Les Weldon, while Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman nab executive producing duties.

Opposites attract in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and though the loss of Jeff Wadlow threatened to derail production – he’s currently in post-production work on The True Memoirs Of An International Assassin for Netflix – with a start date now set for April 2, the wheels are back in motion on action-thriller.