Patrick Hughes, director of the Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson-starrers The Hitman’s Bodyguard and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, is setting up his next feature project at Lionsgate: an action and science fiction film called War Machine. 

According to Variety, who broke the news, the story centres on the final recruits of a gruelling special ops boot camp who encounter a deadly force from beyond this world. Hughes will write and direct.

The project was announced by Lionsgate president of production Erin Westerman, who described Hughes as “one of the best action directors today.” She went on to state that “what sets his movies apart is his focus on characters that cut through the mayhem. He came to us with a tremendous original idea and we’re thrilled to be shepherding it with Patrick in the driver’s seat.”

It’s still very early days for War Machine, and though we know nothing of the cast, release date, or storyline beyond that very short synopsis, we can say with near-certainty this won’t be a Rhodey MCU spinoff.

Up next for the director though is The Man From Toronto, starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, and which is due for release in August 2022.

Feature image by Austin Hargrave