A little over a decade ago, moviegoers started to see a surge of films based on video games grace the silver screen. For the most part these films failed to deliver a good story or stay true to the property. Some films that were supposed to go into production did fall through the cracks though. When Universal owned the rights to Spy Hunter, they had Dwayne Johnson attached to star as the lead, a spymaster who owned a tricked out weaponize car that would jettison damaged parts to reveal a motorcycle or transform into an amphibious vehicle.

However, numerous delays prevented the production from commencing, and as a result the film never saw the light of day. Now Vulture is reporting that Spy Hunter has found new life over at Warner Bros., and that Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) is in talks to direct the film.

Directors who were previously attached to Spy Hunter include John Woo and Paul W.S. Anderson. While the latter did not get a chance to direct the film, he did show his vision for weaponized vehicles in the grungy race actioner Death Race. Johnson, who was attached to appear as the lead in Spy Hunter for Universal, went on to voice a character in one of the video game’s sequels: Spy Hunter: No Where To Run.

Fleischer will most likely pass on the script written by Chad St. John (Motor City), and start off fresh by hiring a new set of writers. No word yet on who those writers may be.

We’ll be able to see Fleischer’s next directorial effort, Gangster Squad, on January 11th, 2013.

[Source: Vulture]