Zac Efron is in talks to star alongside Dwayne Johnson in Paramount Pictures' upcoming big screen adaptation of Baywatch. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Zac Efron's casting ensures the movie will start production in early 2016, most likely in February. The news comes just a few weeks after Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) signed on to direct.

The story follows a "by-the-book and very serious lifeguard," played by Dwayne Johnson who joins forces with a "young rule-flouting hothead" (Zac Efron) to try and save their beach from environmental destruction by an oil tycoon. Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (Friday the 13th) wrote the latest draft of the screenplay, which was originally written by Justin Malen. It isn't known how many other major roles are left to be cast for Baywatch, but there have been rumors that original Baywatch stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson may reprise their roles in cameo appearances.

Beau Flynn and Ivan Reitman are producing, with this project marking the fourth time that Beau Flynn has worked with Dwayne Johnson. They have previously collaborated on the 2012 action adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, last summer's Hercules and their current hit San Andreas, which has taken in over $461 million at the worldwide box office. This will mark the first time Ivan Reitman has worked with both Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson.

This adaptation is believed to be much more comedic that the original TV series, which ran for 11 seasons between 1989 and 2001, spanning 243 episodes. Baywatch is also said to have plenty of action elements, with 21 Jump Street said to be a "tonal touchstone" for this project. It is said that if the right balance between comedy and action can be struck, that Paramount may have a new franchise on its hands, when Baywatch hits theaters sometime in 2017.

Zac Efron will next be seen in We Are Your Friends, hitting theaters August 28. In 2016, the actor has a slew of comedy movies hitting theaters, such as Dirty Grandpa, alongside Robert De Niro, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Are you looking forward to Zac Efron teaming up with Dwayne Johnson in Baywatch?