The Rock, Doug Liman, Dan Harmon Land YouTube Red Orders (Video)

Dwayne Johnson and “Community” creator score series deals, while “Bourne” EP sets up a pilot

dwayne johnson the rock
Getty Images

YouTube Red has ordered a time-travel show from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, an eSports sitcom from Dan Harmon and a teleportation thriller pilot from Doug Liman.

Harmon’s series, which stars YouTube personalities Dan Avidan and Arin Hanson of “Game Grumps” and was created by Michele Morrow and Jesse Cox, follows a newly formed team of eSports players trying to make it to the top in the cutthroat world of competitive gaming.

The six-episode order will debut on “Game Grumps” YouTube channel in 2017, which has 4.3 million subscribers. It is produced by Harmon’s Starburns Industries.

“We’re excited to be the ones finally bringing video game content to YouTube,” Harmon quipped in a media release.

Meanwhile, the 60-minute drama “Impulse” marks the first deal between Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and YouTube. Liman is attached to direct and executive produce alongside Hypnotic’s David Bartis and Gene Klein. Jeffrey Lieber is writing the pilot, which is scheduled for production before the end of year.

Based on the third novel in the “Jumper” series by Steven Gould, “Impulse” features a rebellious 16-year-old girl, who has always felt different from her peers and has longed to escape from her seemingly quaint small town. When a local drug dealer attempts to assault her, she discovers her extraordinary ability to teleport. This newfound power confirms her conviction that she really is different from everybody else, but it now makes her the focus of those who want to control her.

“Steven Gould’s sequel novel to ‘Jumper,’ ‘Impulse,’ fully realizes the dynamic potential of this amazing franchise and I’m excited to have the large canvas of YouTube to bring it to life,” Liman said in a press release.

Johnson shared his new venture on social media:

Set in the not-too-distant future, Johnson’s half-hour series, tentatively named “Lifeline,” is about a little known life insurance company that sends its agents forward 33 days in time to prevent the accidental deaths of its clients. The company’s best man, Charlie Hooks, has never missed a save — until one case changes his life forever.

Technically, the announcements all came Monday morning at MIPCOM.

Comments