After foolishly taking on Bumblebee in theTransformersspinoff of the same name,John Cenais teaming up withJason Batemanfor an untitled action-comedy at Netflix.
Bateman will direct from a script byMark Perez, who wrote last year’s hit comedyGame Nightstarring Bateman andRachel McAdams. Bateman is also expected to play some kind of supporting role in the feature, which puts theOzarkstar back in business with Netflix. Bateman is also producing with his Aggregate Films partnerMichael Costiganvia their Netflix production deal, and they’ll be joined by industry vetsJoe RothandJeff Kirschenbaum.
According tothe Hollywood Reporter, the project follows a family that gets stuck in an abandoned movie studio where the sets come to life, trapping them in various old movies. It sounds like Bateman’s answer toNight at the Museum, albeit with a pop culture twist, but regardless of what the tone ends up being, I like this comic pairing on paper.
Cena is coming off a strong year in which he starred in the Universal comedyBlockersand Paramount’s blockbusterBumblebee, a sequel to which is already in development. He’ll soon be seen oppositeJackie Chanin the action movieProject X-Traction, and he recently signed on to star in the family comedyPlaying With Fire, which starts shooting next month. Cena also lends his voice to the upcomingRobert Downey Jr.movieThe Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.
Perez is a writer who has really persevered in this business, having waited 12 years between writing credits. BeforeGame Nighthit big in 2018, his last produced feature was the 2006 comedyAcceptedstarringJustin Long. He’s currently writing a live-actionCarmen Sandiegomovie that will seeGina Rodriguezreturn as the character for Netflix. Like Cena, Perez is also represented by ICM Partners.
The Netflix project will serve as Bateman’s second feature as a director following the 2013 comedyBad Words, though he has also directed numerous episodes ofOzark. He’s repped by CAA and Lighthouse Management.
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