Muscle Beach: Dwayne Johnson Developing 1980s Drama for USA Network

Dwayne Johnson AKA “The Rock,” is developing a 1980s Venice Beach gym-set Muscle Beach TV show for USA Network. This summer is suddenly bulging with Beefcake nostalgia. We recently reported Arnold Schwarzenegger is producing the Pump TV series, inspired by his early body building career in 1970s Venice Beach. Muscle Beach features “a colorful tribe of lost souls.” They “struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost.”

Johnson, Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, and Beau Flynn’s FlynnPictureCo. sold the Muscle Beach script to Universal Cable Productions. The Muscle Beach TV series will be developed as an original hour-long drama for USA Network. Muscle Beach reunites writers Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer with the team that sold the sci-fi action comedy Alpha Squad 7 feature film script to DreamWorks.

Press materials tease: Muscle Beach will explore “…the body-obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Reagan 80s.” It will examine that era’s excesses. The temptations of L.A. are the backdrop for “the dark side of chasing dreams.” Say it with me. Which way to Muscle Beach?

Check out The Rock’s Muscle Beach TV show announcement on Instagram.

 

See more

 

Get the details from this press release.

 

NEW YORK, July 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions andBeau Flynn’s FlynnPictureCo. have sold a script titled “Muscle Beach” to Universal Cable Productions set to be developed as a prospective original hour-long drama series for USA Network.” The project reunites writers Jeremiah Friedman (“Pawn,” “Family Getaway,” “The Karate Kid 2”) and Nick Palmer (“Sounds,” “One Angry Dwarf,” “Dockweiler”), with the same producing and writing team that sold “Alpha Squad 7,” another Seven Bucks and FlynnPictureCo. collaboration to DreamWorks earlier this year.

“Muscle Beach” is set in a legendary bodybuilding gym in 1980’s Venice Beach where a colorful tribe of lost souls struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost.  As the series explores the body-obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Reagan 80’s, the excess of the era and the many temptations of Los Angeles that will expose the dark side of chasing dreams.  Flynn, Johnson and Garcia will executive produce along with Friedman and Palmer.  Hiram Garcia and Brian Gewirtz will produce on behalf of Seven Bucks Productions and Wendy Jacobson will oversee for FlynnPictureCo.

“Seven Bucks continues to team up with the best partners in the business to produce an entertaining series that stays true to our brand and delves into an iconic time in bodybuilding and Venice Beach culture – the 80’s,” said Johnson. “We are excited to share the dramatic stories of that era in a one-hour format and are thrilled to be continuing our longstanding relationship with FlynnPictureCo.,” Garcia stated.

“Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Seven Bucks Productions are the only people on the planet to collaborate with on this groundbreaking and never before seen show.  Venice Beach in the 80s is iconic and like no era or place that existed before or after.  I’m thrilled to produce another original concept with Seven Bucks Productions, the most dynamic company in our industry. Nick and Jeremiah are the perfect writers to nail this rich world, and USA and Universal Cable Productions are the dream partners,” said Flynn.

Flynn and Johnson’s “Baywatch,” directed by Seth Gordon recently wrapped production and hits theaters worldwide on ‪May 19, 2017.  The duo will begin shooting “Rampage” in March 2017. Friedman and Palmer’s first script, “Family Getaway,” sold to Warner Bros. and made the 2010 Blacklist. Their recent credits include Warner Bros.’ “The Bodyguard” remake and Sony’s “The Karate Kid 2.”

Seven Bucks Productions is represented by WME, The Garcia Companies, and Gang, Tyre Ramer & Brown.  FlynnPictureCo. is represented by Hansen Jacobsen law firm and Friedman and Palmer are represented by UTA, Mosaic, and Sloane, Offer, Weber&Dern.

About Seven Bucks Productions
Co-founded by Dwayne Johnson and producing partner Dany Garcia, Seven Bucks Productions is a multi-platform production company pioneering original content for television, film, emerging technologies, and digital networks. Crossing all entertainment verticals, Seven Bucks Productions creates innovative content rooted in authenticity, strong storytelling, and passion.

Seven Bucks Productions has an ever-expanding slate including tent-pole movies such as Paramount’s Baywatch, New Line’s Shazam, Universal’s The Janson Directive and Dreamworks’ Alpha Squad Seven. The company also produces original television programming including HBO‘s “Ballers,” Spike TV‘s “Rock the Troops” and HBO Documentary Films “Rock and a Hard Place.”

About FlynnPictureCo.
Beau Flynn’s FlynnPictureCo. (FPC), produces high-concept, tentpole films and television for the global audience.  FPC is based at New Line Cinema/Warner Bros (WB) where its had a first-look deal for over ten years. Over the course of his career Flynn has produced films that have grossed over $2.2B at the worldwide box office. FPC is currently in pre-production on RAMPAGE with Dwayne Johnson starring and Brad Peyton directing. The film starts shooting March 2017. FPC just wrapped Paramount’s BAYWATCH starring Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario and Priyanka Chopra. The film was directed by Seth Gordon and is released worldwide May 19, 2017. FPC’s last release was New Line Cinema/WB’s SAN ANDREAS starring Dwayne Johnson. Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario and Paul Giamatti. The film was directed by Brad Peyton, written by Carlton Cuse. It grossed over $475M at the worldwide box office. It was WB’s highest grossing film of 2015. Flynn also collaborated with Dwayne Johnson on the global hits HERCULES and JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND. Prior to that Flynn’s most recent studio releases include HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE.  Earlier in his career Flynn also produced such critically acclaimed films as REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, TIGERLAND and CHOKE. On the television side Flynn has produced shows for NBC, Fox, USA, MTV and Spike.

 

 

RELATED: Schwarzenegger to produce 1970s bodybuilding drama, Pump.

What do you think? Do you like the sound of the Muscle Beach? If USA Network orders it to series, do you plan to check it out? Which sounds better — Muscle Beach or Pump? Tell us.