Last week it was announced that Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt would be reteaming for the spousal super-powered action-comedy, BALL AND CHAIN, and now the film has officially found a home.
Confirming initial speculation, Netflix has landed the film based on the four-part comic book published in 1999. Netflix was viewed as an early frontrunner for the film, which generated a lot of interest and buzz due to its fun concept and high-profile stars. The script, from THE BIG SICK co-writer Emily V. Gordon, follows Edgar and Mallory Bulson, who have decided to throw in the towel on their marriage. Separation is all but certain until a mysterious meteor bathes the battling couple in extraterrestrial energies that give them super-powers. The only catch is they only work if they can learn to put aside their differences and work together. Scott Stuber, Head of Netflix Film, had this to say about landing the project:
"Dwayne and Emily have a chemistry together that is unmatched in our business right now. They are the perfect duo to bring Emily V. Gordon’s electric superhero story to life, and take the world of Ball and Chain to new heights."
The hope for Netflix is that this film will attract the same level of interest as their current original film, EXTRACTION. The Chris Hemsworth-led action film has become Netflix's biggest premiere for an original film and it's just another example of the power of the platform in the growing digital footprint for original films. Having stars like Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt almost guarantees that subscribers will instantly gravitate to the film.
Audiences will get to see the evolving chemistry between Johnson and Blunt when JUNGLE CRUISE is released in July 2021. The Disney movie was set to open this summer before the coronavirus pandemic pushed it off the release calendar until next year. Will YOU be checking out BALL AND CHAIN when it hits Netflix?