Dwayne Johnson Sets ‘Muscle Beach’ Drama at USA Network

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is continuing his scripted TV push.

The actor-producer is developing Muscle Beach, a 1980s-set drama, at USA Network, he announced Wednesday on Instagram.

Muscle Beach is set in a legendary bodybuilding gym in 1980s Venice Beach, where a colorful tribe of lost souls struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost. As the series explores the body-obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Ronald Reagan ‘80s, the excess of the era and the many temptations of Los Angeles that will expose the dark side of chasing dreams.

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Johnson will executive produce along with partner Beau Flynn’s FlynnPictureCo., with Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer set to pen the script. Seven Bucks co-founder Dany Garcia also will serve as an exec producer.

“As a kid growing up in the ‘80s, it’s exciting to produce a series that stays true to our brand and dig deep into an iconic time in bodybuilding and unique Venice Beach culture — the ‘80s,” wrote Johnson. “The ‘80s was a crazy time in Venice Beach with many lost souls. A very crazy time.”

For Johnson, Muscle Beach marks his latest scripted foray. In addition to starring and exec producing HBO’s Ballers, he is teaming with Fox to develop a car-focused cop show, Boost Unit.

News of USA developing Muscle Beach comes days after CBS Television Studios picked up Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding drama Pump, which was previously developed for Showtime.

For USA, meanwhile, Muscle Beach comes days after the NBCUniversal-owned cable network delayed Shooter until the fall. The cabler, with Mr. Robot, began a shift away from its former “Blue Skies” fare in favor of darker-themed fare.

Here’s Johnson’s Instagram post:

 

BIG NEWS: Our @sevenbucksprod along with our producing partner Beau Flynn’s @flynnpictureco sell a script titled “MUSCLE BEACH” to USA Network! Written by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer. An original hour long drama series who’s found the perfect home at USA – a network who’s been on fire with their brilliant dramatic television. “Muscle Beach” is set in a legendary bodybuilding gym in 1980’s Venice Beach where a colorful tribe of lost souls struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost. As the series explores the body obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Reagan 80’s, the excess of the era and the many temptations of Los Angeles will expose the dark side of chasing dreams. As a kid growing up in the 80’s it’s exciting to produce a series that stays true to our brand and dig deep into an iconic time in bodybuilding and unique Venice Beach culture – the 80’s. The 80’s was a crazy time in Venice Beach with many lost souls. A very crazy time… #SevenBucksProds #FlynnPictures #USANetwork #OriginalDramaSeries #MuscleBeach

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Jul 20, 2016 at 10:30am PDT