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Ilfenesh Hadera Will Star Opposite Dwayne Johnson’s Lifeguard In Paramount’s R-Rated Baywatch

Paramount's casting process for its "badass" and R-rated Baywatch movie has been fascinating to watch largely because it's shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Only last week, Quantico starlet Priyanka Chopra was the latest actress to board the studio's burgeoning ensemble piece, and now Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has formally confirmed the addition of Ilfenesh Hadera.

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Paramount’s casting process for its “badass” and R-rated Baywatch movie has been fascinating to watch largely because it’s shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Only last week, Quantico starlet Priyanka Chopra was the latest actress to board the studio’s burgeoning ensemble piece, and now Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has formally confirmed the addition of Ilfenesh Hadera.

Announced via the actor’s ever-popular Instagram, the actress best known for her roles in Chi-Raq and HBO’s Show Me a Hero is set to play Stef, a “strong, intelligent and formidable” love interest to Johnson’s Mitch Buchannon.

Here’s the official post:

EXCLUSIVE: Casting my #BAYWATCH love interest wasn’t easy (extremely tough job but hey I’m one of the producers;) but we finally found her. For our coveted role of “STEF”, she had to be a lot of things: Strong, intelligent, formidable, beautiful and funny. Want to welcome the talented @ilfenator Ilfenesh Hadera to our #BAYWATCH family. She’s a 5’11 walkin’ smokestack with legs for days. Smart and tougher than new rope.. just the way we like ’em. And seeing as she’s playing my love interest – my strong calloused hands are the ONLY HANDS allowed to rub suntan oil on her soft supple skin. You hear that Efron? Step out of line Zac and she’ll knock your unattractive candy ass into next week. Mine too. Our dope cast is coming together nicely with a few more big announcements/cool surprises along the way. Let’s have some rated R fun.. We are the keepers of “The Bay”. We are… #BAYWATCH. #SandSquadUpInThisBitch

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

Joining a cast of budding newcomers and eye-catching stars, with Hadera’s place now a lock, Paramount’s ensemble boasts Neighbors and We Are Your Friends actor Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach in the coveted role of C.J. Parker.

With one eye firmly on Sony’s gleeful and over-the-top formula that helped propel its Jump Street reboot into a bona fide comedy franchise, Baywatch will be helmed by Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon, and though story specifics are being kept under lock and key, the core concept is said to revolve around Efron, Johnson and Rohrbach’s lifeguards who set about thwarting construction plans that thrust their prized stretch of sand into jeopardy. Johnson will produce through his Seven Bucks banner, alongside Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Ivan Reitman and Douglas Schwartz.

Paramount is yet to pencil Baywatch in for a release window, though we expect the studio to align Gordon’s R-rated reboot for a prime summer 2017 slot.