Doug Liman in Early Talks to Direct ‘Cannonball Run’ Revamp for Warner Bros

Film will reimagine 1980s hit comedies about an illegal cross-country car race

Doug Liman Cannonball Run
Getty Images

Doug Liman is in early talks to direct Warner Bros.’ “The Cannonball Run,” a revamp of the 1980s Comedy films directed by Hal Needham and starring Burt Reynolds, an individual with knowledge of the project tells TheWrap.

Andre Morgan is producing with Alan Gasmer, while Albert S. Ruddy and Raymond Chow will serve as executive producers. Morgan produced the first “Cannonball Run” movies.

Released in 1981, “The Cannonball Run” chronicled an illegal cross-country race in which drivers of highly varying vehicles compete to make the trip from Connecticut to Redondo Beach, California in the shortest possible time. The hit comedy fictionalized the real-life Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a tongue-in-cheek protest of speed limit laws held five times during the 1970s.

The original film was released by 20th Century Fox. Warner Bros., however, released the 1984 sequel, and acquired all sequel and remake rights to the franchise from the original copyright owners, including director Needham’s estate. Warners executive Jesse Ehrman and Paul Perez will oversee the project for the studio.

Liman is best known for directing “The Bourne Identity” with Matt Damon and “Edge of Tomorrow” for Warners starring Tom Cruise. Liman was previously circling a couple of superhero movies including “Gambit” for Fox, and he dropped out of directing “Justice League Dark” at WB over scheduling conflicts.

Liman is repped by CAA and Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin.

Deadline first reported the news.

Comments