Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plate continues to fill up as he has signed on for yet another action flick, called TEN, this time from director David Ayer (HARSH TIMES, END OF WATCH). Based on a script by Skip Woods (SWORDFISH), the story revolves around the members of an elite DEA task force who depart from their usual operations and steal millions from a drug cartel safe house. Just when the team thinks they got away with it, someone begins to take out them out one by one.
It sounds compelling enough, but I’m more intrigued by Arnold teaming up with Ayer, a kind of a dark and violent filmmaker who typically deals in the harsher side of humanity, especially within the ranks of law enforcement. It would be cool to see Arnold take on a role that doesn’t paint him as the perfect hero, but rather as a flawed, possibly corrupt character.
TEN has been in development for quite a while, originally slated to star Bruce Willis with director Patrick Alessandrin (DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM) at the helm. Now, it appears it will find its day in the sun once Schwarzenegger completes THE LAST STAND, which is set to bow on January 18, 2013, and the currently filming THE TOMB with ’80’s action pal Sylvester Stallone.
One thing is for sure: Arnold isn’t wasting any time getting back up to speed. Although he’s lined up some really interesting projects, I seem to remember him really sputtering out at the tail end of his career before becoming Governor of California. Let’s hope he doesn’t rush into a bunch of stagnant projects for his big comeback. That being said, at least these first three out of the gate have a solid crew behind them.
He’s back indeed.