'Journey' Sequels in the Works With 'Conjuring' Writers (Exclusive)

Dwayne Johnson is attached to star in two more installments of New Line's 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' franchise.
 

It seems New Line and Walden haven't stopped believing in their Journey franchise, as they are throwing third and fourth installments in the fantasy-adventure movie series into development.

Chad and Carey Hayes, the brothers who wrote New Line’s hit horror movie The Conjuring, have been tapped to pen the scripts for movies that follow 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth and 2012's Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. 

Dwayne Johnson, who toplined Journey 2 (the first film starred Brendan Fraser in the lead role), playing a Navy code breaker, is attached to star in the new installments, which could be filmed back-to-back, schedule permitting. Josh Hutcherson is expected to return as well, although he is not formally attached.

Flynn Picture Company's Beau Flynn will return to the franchise as producer. Charlotte Huggins will also serve as producer. Evan Turner will executive produce. New Line execs Sam Brown and Michael Disco are overseeing for the company.

Plot details are being kept off the grid at this stage. The hiring of the Hayes brothers takes the project in a different direction. Previously, Brian and Mark Gunn, who wrote Journey 2, were hired in 2012 to pen a script for a Journey 3.

The Hayes brothers worked with Johnson on San Andreas, New Line's just-wrapped earthquake disaster movie, and seem to have become his go-to scribes. They are also working on MGM's supernatural action project Seal Team 666, which is being developed as a vehicle for Johnson.  

The Hayes brothers are repped by WME, Circle of Confusion and McKuin Frankel.

Aug. 14, 4:50 pm Updated to include Josh Hutcherson's potential involvement, clarifies producing credits. 

Email: Borys.Kit@THR.com
Twitter: @borys_kit

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