Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul has found his next role, as he has signed on as one of the leads in Need for Speed, a big screen adaptation of the best selling Electronic Arts video game.
Paul joins the project as Breaking Bad nears the end of its five year run, with the final episodes set to air next year. Entertainment Weekly reports that Paul will feature as “one of the leads,” implying we could see a few more large roles for the film cast soon.
Act of Valor helmer Scott Waugh will direct the adaptation for DreamWorks, with filming planned for early next year. “George and John Gatins concocted the movie’s story, which was inspired by the game series but isn’t based on any one title, with George (executive producer of the comedy She’s Out of My League) penning the final screenplay. John, screenwriter of Real Steel, Coach Carter, and the upcoming Denzel Washington drama Flight, will co-produce Need For Speed with EA’s Patrick O’Brien and Mark Sourian, who is also producing the upcoming DreamWorks comedy Starbuck.”
Clearly seeking to capitalize on the success of such racing franchises as The Fast and the Furious, Need for Speed has taken a step in the right direction by adding the two-time Emmy winner, who will hopefully be the nucleus of a solid cast. Waugh, meanwhile, doesn’t have much experience working with actors, as Act of Valor used the angle of real Navy SEALs for the film.
Aaron Paul, who is coming off his second Emmy win as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, can currently be seen alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the alcoholism drama Smashed, which is set to expand outside of New York and LA this week.
Need for Speed has a release date of February 7, 2014 set.