'Breaking Bad' Star Aaron Paul Lands DreamWorks' 'Need for Speed'

Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul has been cast as the lead in Need for Speed, DreamWorks’ action film based on the Electronic Arts video game.

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DreamWorks also set a Feb. 7, 2014, release date for the car-racing project, which Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) is attached to direct.

The movie will be “rooted in the tradition of the great car-culture films of the '70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise," a DreamWorks release said. "In Need for Speed, the cars are hot, the racing is intense, and the story keeps players at the edge of their seat.”

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EA executive vp Patrick Soderlund said in a statement: “Like the game series itself, the cast for the movie needs to be edgy and cool. Aaron Paul is a rising star -- a great choice for the film lead."

Paul already is a TV star thanks to Breaking Bad, with two Emmys for his work on the show. And while he’s done some film work, appearing in indies and Mission: Impossible 3, this will be his first headlining gig.

George Gatins and John Gatins developed the original story, with George penning the screenplay. The script is based on the Need for Speed games but not on any one individual title. (The newest game installment, Need for Speed Most Wanted, launches Oct. 30.)

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John Gatins, Mark Sourian and EA’s Patrick O’Brien will produce.

Paul is repped by UTA and Leverage Entertainment.