Jaume Collet-Serra Re-Teams with Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks for 'Kate Werne,' Emily Blunt to Produce & Possibly Star

by Darian Scalamoni

    Once you make friends with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, he usually does his best to do right by you. Director Jaume Collet-Serra has now found himself within that inner circle as the filmmaker is in talks to make yet another film with Johnson's Seven Bucks production banner.

    The director who previously worked with the professional wrestler-turned superstar talent on both Black Adam and Jungle Cruise will now direct Kate Werne, with Johnson's co-star in the latter film, Emily Blunt in talks to produce and star. While it is confirmed Blunt will come on as a producer, no real talks have taken place for her playing the titular role, however, she's expected to sign on post-strike. Melissa Stack will write the script.

    Deadline had first reported on the news that Blunt was eyed to star in Kate Werne back in 2021, which is described as an action thriller revolving around Warne. She was described as a "real-life Sherlock Holmes," being the very first female to work for the Pinkerton Agency, a detective agency created by the Brits in the 1800s. She is said to be a trailblazer for women in law enforcement paving the way for Blunt to have a great true story to thrust her into an action role.

    Collet-Serra most recently directed the DC Comics film Black Adam, but previously directed Blunt in Disney's Jungle Cruise, based on the popular theme park attraction. He has another film in post-production for Netflix titled Carry On that stars Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Logan Marshall-Green and Danielle Deadwyler. 

    Blunt is in the running potentially for her first Academy Award nomination for her terrific work in this Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer which hit theaters this past summer. She'll next star in Pain Hustlers with Chris Evans, which hits Netflix this Friday, October 27. Prior to the strike, Blunt also wrapped work on the stunt man drama The Fall Guy which also stars Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu and Hannah Waddingham.