Last we heard, Dwayne Johnson was set to take over the David Hasselhoff role in the BAYWATCH movie. While Johnson continues to land massive action films like SAN ANDREAS and RAMPAGE, he has been balancing comedic fare like CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE. But, it looks like BAYWATCH may blend the two and could happen sooner as a director has been found.
The Hollywood Reporter says that HORRIBLE BOSSES director Seth Gordon is close to coming on board the project that has been in development for several years. Produced by SAN ANDREAS' Beau Flynn and GHOSTBUSTERS director Ivan Reitman, BAYWATCH is aiming for a tone similar to 21 JUMP STREET. That means it will be primarily a comedy sending up the original television series while also featuring some action set-pieces.
Here's the general synopsis for the BAYWATCH movie.
The story centers on a by-the-book and very serious lifeguard (Johnson) who is forced to team up with a young rule-flouting hothead in order to save their beach from environmental destruction at the hands of an oil tycoon.
Gordon definitely has the ability to pull off a project like this but I really think it hinges on who plays the young hot-head lifeguard. I would almost say that Jonah Hill would be great but that may be too similar to his pairing with Channing Tatum in the JUMP STREET films. Whoever it is that joins Johnson would need to be cast soon if the early 2016 production can start.