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As Big Little Lies unfolds on HBO, its school principal P.J. Byrne is nearing a deal to join Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in New Line’s RAMPAGE, the Tracking Board has exclusively learned.
Brad Peyton (San Andreas) is directing the adaptation of the classic arcade game. Naomie Harris and Joe Manganiello co-star alongside Jake Lacy, Marley Shelton and Breanne Hill.
Like the game, Rampage will follow three monstrosities — a gorilla, a crocodile and a wolf — as they wreak havoc across America, with only Johnson’s chiseled zoologist standing in their path.
Byrne will play an ethical scientist who works with Johnson at a wildlife park and warns him when his beloved gorilla begins exhibiting dangerous symptoms.
The film is being produced by Beau Flynn of Flynn Picture Co., John Rickard of Wrigley Pictures and Hiram Garcia of Johnson’s own Seven Bucks Productions. Peyton is also producing through his ASAP Entertainment banner.
Johnson and Dany Garcia are executive producing Rampage with Marcus Viscidi and Jeff Fierson, and Wendy Jacobson will co-produce on behalf of Flynn Picture Co.
Ryan Engle wrote the original draft, while Adam Sztykiel penned the most current revisions. Scribes Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal also had a hand in the screenplay.
New Line will release Rampage on April 20, 2018.
Byrne has been working in Hollywood for more than 15 years but his career got a huge boost after he played Nicky Koskoff in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. That led to a role in Scorsese’s HBO series Vinyl, which was unfortunately canceled after just one season.
The actor is now a dual threat on pay cable, playing Principal Nippal on HBO’s Big Little Lies and Kenny Vessey on Showtime’s upcoming comedy series I’m Dying Up Here, which will premiere at SXSW next month.
On the big screen, Byrne recently appeared in Joel Edgerton’s terrific thriller The Gift and he’ll next be seen alongside Ed Helms in Dito Montiel’s indie comedy The Clapper. He has also worked with directors ranging from Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood to Jay Roach and Michel Gondry.
Byrne is represented by Greene & Associates Talent Agency, Mosaic and Peikoff Mahan Law Office.
Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief
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