For years now Michael Bay has been talking about making a movie called Pain & Gain. However, each time he's put plans in motions, he's eventually agreed to direct another Transformers movie first. Now that he's finally left the robots behind, he's putting Pain & Gain together again, and Variety reports that he's closing in on his cast.
Dwayne Johnson is said to be in talks to star in the dark comedy, with Mark Wahlberg also circling a role. The film centres on a pair of Florida bodybuilders who get caught in the middle of an extortion and kidnapping scheme. It is said that Mark Wahlberg may have scheduling issues to clear up before he signs on, but he has discussed the project with Michael Bay.
Michael Bay will direct Pain and Gain from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Captain America: The First Avenger). The project is based on a 1999 article in the Miami New Times which chronicles this true story crime tale. The tone of Pain and Gain has been compared to Fargo, with Bay said to want to shoot it fast and dirty, finally proving he not just about explosives and special effects.