Dwayne Johnson to Star in Robert Ludlum's 'The Janson Directive'?

Here's one you may have forgotten about. Three years ago Universal picked up the rights to The Janson Directive, another espionage thriller about secret agents from Robert Ludlum, the author of the Jason Bourne books. And then, well, nothing happened on it but it appears the studio is now looking at some big name (and big muscled) talent to lead it.

According to Variety, Dwayne Johnson is being eyed for the film which centers on ex-Navy Seal Paul Janson, who finds himself the target of an extermination directive (hence the title) after a mission goes sour. John Hlavin wrote the first draft of the script back when Universal acquired it but that's out the window and new screenwriters will take a shot at it.

Johnson is said to be on board for the gig, too, and it's obvious why. Universal has done a bang-up job with their Bourne franchise and this would give Johnson a serious tentpole to call his own. The studio gets the most bankable actor in Hollywood and some leverage in case Jeremy Renner's next Bourne film doesn't improve.