DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON will star in action thriller 'Ciudad'.

The 'Fast Five' actor will play the lead role in the Joe and Anthony Russo directed movie, which will see him play a black market mercenary who's hired by a Brazilian drug lord to rescue his kidnapped daughter.

The movie is based on the upcoming Oni Press graphic novel that the Russo Brothers co-wrote with Ande Parks and will not only be their first film since 2006's 'You, Me and Dupree' but also the first time the filmmaking duo have tackled the action genre.

They said in a statement: ''Exploring genre has always been a driving motivation for us as filmmakers. This movie is the culmination of a long time ambition to bring our sensibilities to an action thriller.''

'Ciudad' is being produced by Eric Gitter and Peter Schwerin of Closed on Mondays Entertainment, as well as Emmett/Furla Films partners Randall Emmett & George Furla.

Closed on Mondays Entertainment's Joe Nozemack will executive produce along with David Guillod of Intellectual Artists Management.

It is unclear when the movie will start filming although Dwayne will first film 'Fast Six' and Michael Bay's 'Pain and Gain' before moving on to 'Hercules' in October.