Rob Cohen has signed on to helm "Scared Straight," a prison thriller for New Line Cinema. Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson are producing through their Contrafilm banner.

"Straight" centers on a governor's teenage son who is sent to prison as part of Scared Straight, a crime-prevention program that imprisons delinquent teens for a short period in the hopes of deterring them from a life of crime. While the teenager is there, a riot breaks out and the prisoners take him hostage. He teams with other street kids and a con to stop the riot.

"After the success of 'Prison Break,' there is revival of interest in the genre," Cohen said in an interview. "It's going to be a genre movie with depth, and the depth will come from the character. It's the fight for the soul of this young kid who is on the verge."

Cohen said the setting will not be an old, traditional prison but rather an ultra high-tech slammer. "It's going to be a sophisticated, state-of-the-art prison, which of course will be its weakness."

Ron Brinkerhoff, who penned Contrafilm's "The Guardian," is rewriting.

Toby Emmerich and Jeff Katz are overseeing for New Line.

WMA-repped Cohen most recently directed "Stealth." He also is writing a biopic of filmmaker Russ Meyer and his wife titled "King of the Nudies," which he plans to direct. Cohen's credits include "The Fast and the Furious" and "XXX."