Do you remember the early-‘90s gems, “Mr. Nanny” and “Suburban Commando?” Those features starred wrestler, Hulk Hogan, as a big, strong man joining up with some kids in an adventure in a solidly family-friendly film. In 2020, it appears that Dave Bautista is stepping into Hogan’s shoes and making films that could sit comfortably next to those features, like his upcoming film, “Universe’s Most Wanted.”
Deadline is reporting that Bautista has signed on to star in “Universe’s Most Wanted,” a sci-fi/fantasy film that finds the wrestler-turned-actor playing an intergalactic peacekeeper that finds himself in an American small town where he joins forces with a kid to help capture some of the universe’s most wanted criminals that landed on Earth. The film is set to be directed by Brad Peyton, who is used to this sort of blockbuster feature, having previously helmed films such as “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” “San Andreas,” and “Rampage.”
“Jeff and I are incredibly excited to be teaming up with Dave, Jonathan and AGC on this project,” said Peyton. “Scott and Jimmy are terrific writers and have conceived of the perfect sci fi tentpole that fits perfectly into ASAP’s brand and my directing sensibilities. We couldn’t be more thrilled to get going on ‘Universe’s Most Wanted.’ This is the type of fun mysterious and irreverent adventure we all need right now.”
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As mentioned, Bautista has been carving out a niche for himself as the action star that isn’t afraid to co-star with kids and make a family-friendly action-comedy. His most recent feature, “My Spy,” served the same purpose and seemed to be a big enough hit on Amazon Prime Video that a sequel is in development. However, for folks who read this website, you probably know Bautista best from his roles in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, as well as “Avengers” and his brief appearance in “Blade Runner 2049.” He’s also set to co-star in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune.”
No release date has been set for “Universe’s Most Wanted.”
For those who are confused about Hulk Hogan’s aforementioned films, here’s the trailer for “Suburban Commando,” which definitely feels like a similar story to “Universe’s Most Wanted”: