Though the holidays are still six months away, Dwayne Johnson (better known by his ring name, "The Rock") is teaming up with Chris Morgan, the writer for Hobbs & Shaw, for a new Amazon Studios Christmas mystery movie. Johnson has worked with Morgan on four other films in the Fast & Furious franchise, with the 2019 spinoff being their latest project together. In total, Morgan has written seven different installments in the Fast universe, starting with Tokyo Drift, as well as other notable films such as Wanted (2008) and 47 Ronin (2013).
Over the last few years, Amazon Studios has slowly been pumping out some truly fantastic films; although, for a while they were really only focused on producing awards contenders, such as Manchester by the Sea. More recently, however, the online retailer has been looking to acquire splashier titles to compete with other streaming services, such as Borat 2 and Coming 2 America. Because the coronavirus pandemic forced movie theaters to shutdown, it allowed Amazon to take advantage of properties that traditional studios would normally acquire. Moving forward, Amazon hopes to work alongside big names in Hollywood to further expand their reach in viewers, which this latest announcement seems to be geared towards.
THR reports that Johnson is once again teaming up with Hobbs & Shaw writer for a new Amazon Studios Christmas mystery movie called Red One. While details are still under wraps, Red One is described as a globe-trotting, action-adventure comedy that imagines a "whole new universe to explore within the holiday genre." In their announcement for the new film, Amazon does not specifically mention Santa Claus or how exactly Christmas will play in with the story, but several outside sources paint the project as Santa-centric. Amazon hopes to begin filming in 2022 with a slated release date for the 2023 holiday season.
Amazon and Seven Bucks Productions (Johnson's production company) are even potentially looking at Red One as more than just another film. Given the Christmas theme, sources say the movie may tap into the gift-giving enterprises that flourish during the holiday season, which includes Amazon's retail site, of course. Amazon's announcement specifically mentions the film reaching "beyond entertainment" and expanding "across multiple industries and businesses." Which roughly means the film will for sure inspire a multitude of merchandise, but it could also mean that Amazon's services might be directly incorporated into the story as well.
Johnson is a household name with an immense amount of star power. Tapping into that Hollywood influence, it's clear that Amazon Studios is looking to get a leg up in the streaming world. However, since Amazon is more than just a streaming platform, it was only a matter of time before they tried to incorporate their other services with their filmmaking business. Considering their plans for Johnson's and Morgan's new Christmas themed movie, it's clear all involved have big plans for Red One.
Source: THR