Dwane Johnson Stars in Protection – Update

Posted: June 24, 2010

By Jenna

Los Angeles– Dwayne Johnson has signed to star in the action thriller Protection, as announced by IM Global Founder and CEO Stuart Ford today. Protection will be directed by Simon West (Con Air, Laura Croft: Tomb Raider, The Mechanic, Strangers) and is scheduled to lens in New Mexico this fall. The screenplay was written by Brandon Noonan.

Johnson will star as ‘Hombre’ in the $35 million budgeted, high-octane tale of a mercenary Mexico City security operative forced to smuggle the daughter of an under-threat, high ranking judge and the judge’s chief legal counsel across the border while being pursued by corrupt cops, drug lords and white collar U.S. criminal forces. With Protection, Johnson continues the return to his action roots, having just completed filming CBS Films’ Faster, which is scheduled for release this November.

Protection will be produced by Ford and Robert Lawrence, along with Gordon Gray and Marc Ciardi of Mayhem Pictures. Brian Kavanaugh Jones will executive produce and Jib Polhemus will act as co-producer.

Said Ford: “Dwayne is poised to consolidate his position as one of the planet’s top action stars over the next few years. Meanwhile Simon is a proven commodity when it comes to studio level action pics. Add to that a pulsating storyline which is very much grounded in current events and I think we have a potential smash hit movie”.

pcmreviews.com

Simon West to Direct ‘Protection’ with Dwayne Johnson

Simon West was once attached to direct the action thriller Protection, he then left the project and was replaced by District 13: Ultimatum director Patrick Alessandrin. Then Alessandrin left the project, and he was replaced by… Simon West, the same guy who was originally attached to direct it. Kinda weird how that all worked out.At one point the film starred Paul Walker, that didn’t work out so Clive Owen took the lead role, when he left Dwayne Johnson came in to take over. I just think it’s weird that they went from Paul Walker to Dwayne Johnson for the same role. The actors just kept getting bigger.

Here is what the press release says,

Johnson will star as ‘Hombre’ in the $35 million budgeted, high-octane tale of a mercenary Mexico City security operative forced to smuggle the daughter of an under-threat, high ranking judge and the judge’s chief legal counsel across the border while being pursued by corrupt cops, drug lords and white collar U.S. criminal forces.  With PROTECTION, Johnson continues the return to his action roots, having just completed filming CBS Films’ FASTER, which is scheduled for release this November.

With Johnson on board this film should turn out being a fun action thriller. What do you all think?

http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/4/29/simon-west-to-direct-dwayne-johnson-in-protection-again.html