Dominic Cooper is set to star with Aaron Paul in the Need For Speed movie.

According to Variety, the British actor is “in negotiations” to play the second male lead in the video game adaptation. Breaking Bad star Paul joined the cast back in October (2012).

Need For Speed is being based on the popular series of racing car video games by Electronic Arts. The first game was released in 1994 and the series has now sold over 100 million copies worldwide.


The film’s script will be “inspired by” the racing games, but not adapted from any one title. Paul’s character is the owner of a garage that modifies supercars who gets sent to prison after being framed for the murder of his best friend during a race. Cooper is set to appear as an ex-NASCAR driver who also makes his living modifying supercars.

Meanwhile, Fright Night actress Imogen Poots is apparently “making a deal” to appear as a car dealer who does business with both of them. Scott Waugh, who helmed this year’s Navy SEALs drama Act Of Valor, is on board as director. Filming is scheduled to begin early next year and DreamWorks has set a release date of February 7 2014.

Cooper’s most recent film was horror fantasy flick Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter which opened in cinemas this June (2012). He will next be seen in Dead Man Down, a thriller co-starring Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace due next March (2013).