Zac Efron to Star in ‘King of the Jungle’ About Tech Magnate John McAfee
Zac Efron is attached to star in “King of the Jungle,” a film based on tech magnate John McAfee, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
The film will be based on a Wired magazine article. Efron is set to play the reporter of the article that was about McAfee, who created the McAfee Antivirus software and then cashed in his fortune and moved to a jungle in Belize.
In “King of the Jungle,” journalist Ari Furman (Efron) thinks he’s going to Belize on an assignment to interview McAfee, but soon finds himself pulled into dangerous territory.
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“Crazy, Stupid, Love”) are directing, based on a screenplay by writing duo Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.
Charlie Gogolak is producing the film with Conde Nast Entertainment, Ficarra and Requa’s Zaftig Films, as well as MadRiver Pictures and Epic Entertainment. STX is still in talks for the film’s domestic rights. Previously, Seth Rogen and Michael Keaton were attached to the project as Furman and McAfee, respectively.
Principal photography is set to begin early 2020 — the filmmakers are hunting for an actor to play McAfee.
Efron is represented by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment and Viewpoint. His most recent credits include “Baywatch,” “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” and “The Greatest Showman,” and he will next voice Fred Jones in Warner Bros.’ upcoming Scooby-Doo film, “Scoob.”
Deadline first reported the news.
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