Baywatch star Dwayne Johnson is inviting fans to an upcoming event to show off their slow motion skills. Starring Johnson and Zac Efron, Baywatch, naturally, is based on smash syndicated television series of the same name. Featuring several attractive lifeguards in either skimpy shorts or snug, one-piece swimsuits, the series – which starred David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson – had a penchant for incorporating slow motion visual effects to extenuate the action scenes and perhaps more importantly, the attractiveness of its cast members.
Looking to keep the slow motion tradition of Baywatch alive, Johnson announced Wednesday "The Baywatch SlowMo Marathon," set for later this month in Los Angeles. Paramount says in a press release:
"On April 22nd, the world will be introduced to an evolution in the field of sport. A marathon, but a marathon like no other. The Baywatch SlowMo Marathon – A grueling 0.2km that must be run entirely in slow motion. Come down, see the cast of Baywatch and put your body, heart and mind to the test."
The event will take place at Microsoft Square at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles from 11 to 12 p.m. While Johnson is not scheduled to appear at the moment, Efron is expected to be there, along with Baywatch co-stars Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Jon Bass, and Ilfenesh Hadera.
Johnson says there's more to the "Baywatch SlowMo Marathon" than just looking cool. He says in an Instagram post:
"The slowest and sexiest person to cross the finish line at LA LIVE on April 22nd is coming to our big @BaywatchMovie premiere. Train hard, this is going to take some patience, creativity and FUN."
Whether its promoting films like his new action adventure The Fate of the Furious or comedies like Baywatch, Johnson clearly loves to drum up excitement for his projects. Already primed for the summer movie season, the actor seems to be particularly reveling in the R-rated big-screen update of the iconic TV show, which he said this week will be "far dirtier" than its small screen predecessor. Citing the priorities of the Baywatch movie, Johnson says, "Plot was important, don’t get me wrong, but so was sorting out our slow motion runs.”
However, when Baywatch gets a jump on the Memorial Day Weekend box office when the film comes out a day earlier than originally planned on May 25, it's pretty safe to assume that he'll want fans to run – in fast motion – to the theater to get their ticket (to watch the slow motion scenes, naturally).
Next: Baywatch is ‘Far Dirtier’ Than TV Show, Says The Rock
Sources: Dwayne Johnson, Paramount
