Breaking out in the horror genre with the still unreleased Poughkeepsie Tapes, then Quarantine (aka [REC] remake), followed by the M. Night Shyamalan-produced Devil, the Dowdle brothers are switching gears for their next project and they’ve make quite an interesting choice for their lead role.

Dread Central reports (whose exclusive was shamelessly stolen by Deadline) that Owen Wilson has signed on to star in John Erick Dowdle‘s The Coup. The action drama, co-written by his brother Drew Dowdle, followed “an American family in their new overseas home soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape while rebels mercilessly attack the city.”

Reportedly in the style of Taken, this is quite a change-up for Wilson whose career has shifted since his Behind Enemy Lines days. Aside from his comedies, most of his excitement on screen is relegated to tame family films like Night at the Museum. I could see him pulling something like this off if the tone is right and could possibly be more believable than an action star, since Wilson fits the regular family man role.

Production for the film, which is said to have some horrific elements, begins this October in Southeast Asia.

What do you think about Owen Wilson in an action drama?