With a first-look feature film agreement for his Dancing Skeleton banner, Alan Ritchson is formalizing his powerhouse relationship with Netflix. The streamer has greenlit an as-yet-unnamed heist thriller of the high-octane variety after the kind of numbers War Machine posted on its service; the sci-fi action film was a runaway hit. Chris Morgan is on hand to write the script for what will be a confluence of international crime and fast cars.
In the vein of Fast and Furious but with professional motorcycle racing thrown in, the project is all about stunts and scope. The story follows a hard-edged bunch of motorcycle thieves who have moved on from mere getaways to steal priceless antiquities the world over. To dismantle their operations, Interpol calls in a former MotoGP prodigy for Ritchson to portray. But it becomes something of a personal matter when his character comes face to face with the criminal ring’s mastermind: his younger brother, long believed dead.
The screenplay is being written by none other than Chris Morgan, who penned so many of the blockbusters that define the Fast and Furious franchise. And in a first, the MotoGP organization itself has partnered on the project to see that the development stays true to the championship. Ritchson had previously secured the rights to MotoGP, wanting to translate his love of motorcycles into hands-on riding stunts.
Ritchson is set to produce and star in the film under the auspices of Dancing Skeleton and with Chris and Ainsley Morgan of Chris Morgan Productions. RK Films’ Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are also producing; considering Kirschenbaum’s role in the original relaunch of Fast and Furious, one can appreciate the pedigree he brings to the action side of things.
It is no surprise to see this deal finalized given the commercial pull Ritchson has at Netflix. In 91 days War Machine became one of the most viewed movies in the company’s history. Add to that his work as the face of Prime Video’s Reacher and the actor is well on his way to being regarded as among the finest modern action talents in Hollywood. Once the script is done being developed, word should come out on casting and when production will commence.