In the world of videogame to feature film adaptations, Need for Speed is a bit of an obvious choice in Hollywood’s eyes, especially after the success Universal has had with the Fast and the Furious franchise. DreamWorks has been tasked with the project and is now assembling the cast for the film, which is set to be directed by Act of Valor‘s Scott Waugh. With each new addition, it’s turning out to be a surprisingly strong group of actors for a studio blockbuster.
We first had Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul emerge as the lead, then the talented up-and-comer Imogen Poots join opposite him and now Variety reports that Captain America and An Education star Dominic Coper is in talks to join the ensemble. Scripted by George Gatins, based on an original story from his brother, Flight’s John Gatins, the film reportedly takes cues from the tradition of the great car-culture films of the ’70s.
Cooper plays a former NASCAR driver named Dino, who runs a business creating supercars, and does business with Poots’ character. Paul, however, is an ” underground racecar driver who owns a garage that modifies expensive cars to make them faster for racing. He’s framed and sent to prison when his best friend is murdered during a race” and “he seeks revenge upon his release.” It all seems a bit silly, but hopefully they can truly recreate a slick ’70s vibe for this one.
Need for Speed arrives on February 7th, 2014.