Emmy Award-Winner Aaron Paul Joins Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart Action Comedy CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

BroadwayWorld has learned that Aaron Paul has been cast in CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE alongside the previously announced Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. The BREAKING BAD actor will be playing Johnson's partner in the CIA who seems to sacrifice himself for Johnson.

From New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures, the film stars Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart and will be directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, director of the hit comedies "We're the Millers" and "Dodgeball."

The story follows a one-time bullied geek who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent (Johnson), coming home for his HIGH SCHOOL reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, he enlists the help of the former "big man on campus" (Hart), now an accountant who misses his GLORY days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he's getting into it's too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than he can count.

Aaron Paul is an American actor and producer. He is best known for portraying Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad, for which he won several awards, including the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This made him the only actor to win the latter category three times (2010, 2012, and 2014) since its separation into drama and comedy.

Paul began his career with roles in several music videos and guest roles in television series, before taking minor roles in films such as The Last House on the Left and Mission: Impossible III. In 2007, he had a recurring role as Scott Quittman in the HBO series Big Love. Following his breakthrough, he began starring in films such as Need for Speed, A Long Way Down, and Exodus: Gods and Kings. Since 2014, he has executive produced the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman, in which he voices Todd Chavez.

"Central Intelligence" will also star Oscar nominee Amy Ryan ("Gone Baby Gone") as CIA Agent Harris; and Danielle Nicolet (TV's "The Game") as Maggie, the wife and HIGH SCHOOL sweetheart of Hart's BMOC.

Thurber will direct from a screenplay by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen and Sean Anders & John Morris, story by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen. The film will be produced by Scott Stuber ("Ted"), Peter Principato (TV's "Black-ish"), Paul Young ("Black-ish") and Michael Fottrell ("Furious Seven"). Ed Helms, who previously worked with Thurber on "We're the Millers," will serve as executive producer.

The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Barry Peterson ("We're the Millers," "21 Jump Street"), production designer Stephen Lineweaver ("Ted," "Blades of Glory"), editors Mike Sale and Brian Olds ("We're the Millers," "Tammy") and costume designer Carol Ramsey ("Horrible Bosses," "Dodgeball").

A New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures presentation of a Bluegrass Films/Principato Young Entertainment Production, "Central Intelligence" will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Photo Credit: Retna Ltd.