AFM: Dave Bautista, Brad Peyton Join ‘Universe’s Most Wanted’ for AGC, CAA

 Guardians of the Galaxy alum Dave Bautista and San Andreas and Rampage director Brad Peyton have joined Universe’s Most Wanted, a sci-fi-fantasy adventure from Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios.

Bautista will star, Peyton will direct, and both will produce the film, which AGC and CAA Media Finance will sell worldwide, introducing the project to buyers at next month’s virtual American Film Market. Universe’s Most Wanted is targeting spring to begin principle production. 

The film is set in a small town whose residents find themselves under attack after a spaceship carrying the universe’s most wanted and dangerous criminals crash lands in their backyard. The son of the local sheriff joins forces with an intergalactic peacekeeper (Bautista) to keep the alien prisoners from escaping and taking over the world.  

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Peyton will direct and produce Universe’s Most Wanted via his ASAP Entertainment shingle, together with ASAP’s Jeff Fierson, from a script by F. Scott Frazier (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) and Jimmy Loweree.  Bautista will produce via his Dream Bros Entertainment production company along with Dream Bros’ Jonathan Meisner.  AGC Studios will also provide production services and is currently casting other key roles in the film.

“Scott and Jimmy are terrific writers and have conceived of the perfect sci fi tentpole that fits perfectly into ASAP’s brand and my directing sensibilities,” said Peyton in a statement. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to get going on Universe’s Most Wanted! This is the type of fun mysterious and irreverent adventure we all need right now.”

Canada-born Peyton has become a go-to director for studio action tentpoles. His films, including Rampage, San Andreas, and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, have grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide. 

The deal was negotiated by AGC’s vp of legal & business affairs Anant Tamirisa on behalf of AGC; by CAA; by Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern on behalf of Peyton; and by Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein on behalf of Bautista.