For almost a decade now, Hollywood has been trying to figure out a way to turn the ’90s TV show Baywatch into a feature film. Because, as we all know, slow-motion footage of scantily clad men and women running through sand never goes out of style. The project was originally set up at DreamWorks but eventually changed hands to Paramount a few years ago where they hired Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up) to write and direct. Then, for a time, Reno 911! co-creator and star Robert Ben Garant took over the reins. Now they have finally settled on a couple of new directors for the project, but more importantly, they also have a big name actor attached to star: Dwayne Johnson is reportedly getting ready to hit the beach.

According to THR, Paramount is getting serious about making a Baywatch movie and they have hired Dwayne Johnson to star in the movie. Sean Anders and John Morris (We’re the Millers) will direct from a script that is being rewritten by Justin Malen (Bad Teacher 2). Johnson confirmed the news on Instagram where he described it as “Edgy, raunchy and hopefully, funny as all hell.”

While The Rock obviously has the chiseled physique required for the part, I am a little surprised that they are not anchoring the film on someone who is known strictly for comedy. Obviously he has done plenty of comedies in the past, but his involvement also brings with it some expectation of more ambitious action elements. I’m guessing they will be modeling the film after 21 Jump Street and its sequel, so perhaps they will team him up with a Jonah Hill-esque sidekick. The plot was previously described as revolving around “a series of shark attacks that led the Baywatch team to investigate a drug-smuggling operation.” Do you have any interest in a Baywatch movie?