SlashFilm says Amazon Studios just locked down a pitch for Heads of State, a 1990s-style action movie featuring John Cena (Bumblebee) and Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) in lead roles. Two stars pitched the idea during a recent Zoom meeting alongside with the screenwriter Harrison Query and producers Peter Safran (Aquaman, Shazam!) and John Rickard (Rampage). Amazon executives were apparently impressed with what they’ve heard.
The article describes Heads of State as “90s style two-hander, a high-octane premise that has a bit of Air Force One meets Hobbs and Shaw, bringing together an odd couple in a high stakes situation.” The very description of the film’s premise sounds cheesy, which is fine by us! We could all use a nice, cheesy, over-the-top action movie right about now. Producers are currently seeking a director.
Interestingly, this is technically a second joint project by Cena and Elba. Two stars are both appearing in James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad, which is unsurprising considering the crazy roster of actors Gunn managed to gather for the film. In The Suicide Squad, Elba portrays Bloodsport, AKA Robert DuBois, a felon convicted of shooting Superman with a Kryptonite bullet. As for Cena, he plays Peacemaker, a demented vigilante/villain who wants to shoot his way to world peace. Cena will also appear as Peacemaker in a limited prequel TV series Gunn is developing for HBO Max.
