Dave Bautista is set to be the lead in a crime thriller from the creator of The Fast and the Furious franchise called Traphouse. The latest project to be headlined by Bautista, the former WWE superstar has a number of other titles in development and three that are slated to be released in 2020.
Wrestlers often choose a lane when stepping away from the ring. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a certified action star and, more recently, John Cena has distinguished himself by accepting more comedic scripts like Blockers. Bautista, on the other hand, has been more inclined to mix it up since breaking out as Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Bautista’s filmography includes several high octane performances expected of someone with his physique, he has also earned praise for his supporting turns in Spectre and Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. His character in the latter, Sapper Morton, was featured in his own short film. The star’s most recent project to be announced, Traphouse, seems to be a sign of the trend continuing.
Now, Deadline reports that Traphouse will tell the story of an undercover DEA agent and his partner as they follow the trail of a brazen and surprisingly adept group of robbers. This ostensibly routine operation is complicated by the fact that the robbers are related to the agents - their own teenagers, who have been using their parents’ expertise and information to steal from a dangerous cartel. Gary Scott Thompson, the writer behind the first two Fast and Furious installments, will work on the screenplay. Bautista, who helped to develop Traphouse, will also serve as a producer.
Speaking of the crime thriller, Bautista referred to it as something that had been in the works for years. The actor added that Thompson is the perfect person to ensure the fast-paced, propulsive plot would be imbued with a lot of heart. Other than jumpstarting the saga that has now expanded to Hobbs & Shaw, Thompson most notably created the NBC show Las Vegas. A blend of comedy and drama set in a casino, it ran for five seasons and boasted a long list of cameos from famous faces.
Much more remains to be revealed about Traphouse, including further casting news on Bautista’s partner and their teenagers, and it is not yet known if the inherent comedy in the premise will be indulged. But looking at Bautista’s history and the roles he has taken on, it’s quite possible. Both this summer’s Stuber and the upcoming My Spy, balance fast-paced jolts with deadpan humor. Traphouse may look to do the same.
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Source: Deadline
