David Ayer To Direct ‘Heart Of The Beast’ For Paramount; Damien Chazelle Producing

Justin Kroll
·1-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off the success of his action pic The Beekeeper, David Ayer is continuing to stay busy. The director has signed on to helm Paramount Pictures’ Heart of the Beast. Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton are producing under their Wild Chickens Productions banner as part of their first-look deal with the studio. Ayer and Chris Long will also produce under their Cedar Park Entertainment banner.

Cameron Alexander, who penned the script, will executive produce. Richard Raymond is co-producing.

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The story follows a former Navy SEAL and his retired combat dog who attempt to return to civilization after a catastrophic accident deep in the Alaskan wilderness.

Ayer is not shy of showing his appreciation of the military whether by some of the films he has directed, like World War II pic Fury, or his social media, which is filled with posts that honor those who have served. This project is no exception.

As for Chazelle, the film will be one of the first where the Oscar winner is serving as a full-on producer after signing his deal with the studio.

Ayer is coming off his Amazon MGM Studios pic The Beekeeper, starring Jason Statham. The film overachieved at the box office, bringing in $152 million globally. Ayer recently came on to direct Levon’s Trade, which reunites him with Statham, who will star.

Cedar Park and Ayer are represented by WME. Ayer is also repped by attorney David Weber and Tom Collier.

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