Owen Wilson's last foray into action films was the entertaining but forgettable 'Behind Enemy Lines' way back in 2001. Since then he's stuck mainly to the comedic side of things but now it seems he's got a taste for the action thing again signing on to star in action thriller 'The Coup'. 'Devil' and 'Quarantine' director John Erick Dowdle is working from a script that he co-wrote along with his brother Drew Dowdle, with the project being set up at Crime Scene Pictures. The story is described as an intense thriller that focuses on an American family who, after moving to Southeast Asia, find themselves embroiled in the midst of a violent coup (hence the title) when a bunch of rebels mercilessly attack the city where the family happen to be residing in. Well that would put a damper on anyone's day, wouldn't it. Naturally it's assumed that Wilson would play the patriarch of said American family. Crime Scene Pictures' partners Adam Ripp and Rob Paris said:
"We love the relentless energy of the Dowdle Brothers' script- and their vision for dropping Owen in the midst of the chaos is truly inspired".
Producer Steve Alexander continued:
"When I first read the Dowdles' screenplay, I was immediately taken with how strongly it taps into that primal fear which any parent can relate to, when it comes to the safety and protection of their family".
Ripp and Paris are financing the production with Alexander producing along with Drew Dowdle. Filming is scheduled to begin in October in Southeast Asia. Wilson was most recently seen in Woody Allen's Oscar winning 'Midnight in Paris' and has several projects lined up including a reunion with his 'Wedding Crashers' co-star Vince Vaughn.