Dwayne Johnson is set to headline the Russo Brothers’ film adaptation of their own upcoming graphic novel, Ciudad.
First announced some years ago, the still-unpublished graphic novel (written with Ande Parks) is set in one of the most dangerous and corrupt cities in the world. Johnson plays a black market mercenary who’s hired by a Brazilian drug lord to rescue his kidnapped daughter.
The film is being produced by Eric Gitter and Peter Schwerin of Closed on Mondays Entertainment (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), as well as Randal Emmett & George Furla (Broken City). Emmett/Furla Films will finance the movie. Envision Entertainments Stepan Martirosyan and Remington Chase, who maintain a film fund with Emmett/Furla Films, will executive produce. Joe Russo adapted the screenplay and he and Anthony will co-direct.
“Exploring genre has always been a driving motivation for us as filmmakers,” said the Russos, “This movie is the culmination of a long time ambition to bring our sensibilities to an action thriller.”
Anthony and Joe Russo’s last featured was 2006’s You, Me and Dupree. Since then, they’ve been very involved in television, directing episodes of “Community,” “Happy Endings” and “Up All Night.”
Johnson, meanwhile, has already appeared this year in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and has a diverse upcoming slate that includes G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Snitch, Fast Six, Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain and, just announced, Hercules.
(Photo Credit: Apega /WENN.com)
