Early in his career, Owen Wilson flirted with a few action-oriented pics like Behind Enemy Lines, Shanghai Noon, and I Spy.  Now it appears the actor fancies a return to the genre, as it was announced today that Wilson will star in the action drama The Coup.  The tone of the film is described as being akin to Taken (as is every other action drama in development these days), and centers on an American family that moves to Southeast Asia and finds themselves “embroiled in a violent coup where rebels mercilessly attack the city.”  Hit the jump for more.

Wilson will play the father in the film, which is based on a script by Drew and John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine).  John will direct The Coup, making the film his follow-up to 2010’s Devil.  He also directed the 2008 thriller Quarantine which he co-wrote with his brother.

Wilson has certainly grown as an actor since Behind Enemy Lines, so it’ll be interesting to see how his action take differs this time around.  He’s set to film two comedies this summer: Shawn Levy’s The Internship which reunites him with Vince Vaughn and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner’s feature debut You Are Here.  The latter teams Wilson up with Zach Galifianakis and will no doubt feature dramatic elements.  No word on when The Coup is set to start filming, but you can read the full press release below.

(Los Angeles) April 24, 2012 – Crime Scene Pictures announced that Owen Wilson (Midnight in Paris, Wedding Crashers, The Royal Tenenbaums) will star in THE COUP, which John Erick Dowdle (Devil, Quarantine) will direct from a script he co-wrote with his brother Drew Dowdle. Crime Scene Pictures’ Adam Ripp and Rob Paris are financing and have teamed up with Steve Alexander and Drew Dowdle to produce. Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway will executive produce.  Filming will begin in October in Southeast Asia. Sierra/Affinity will be handling international sales while CAA is representing the U.S. rights.

THE COUP is an intense thriller centered on an American family that moves to Southeast Asia and finds themselves embroiled in a violent coup where rebels mercilessly attack the city.

Crime Scene Pictures partners Ripp and Paris:  “We love the relentless energy of the Dowdle Brothers’ script – and their vision for dropping Owen in the midst of the chaos is truly inspired.”

Producer Steve Alexander continued: “When I first read the Dowdles’ screenplay, I was immediately taken with how strongly it taps into that primal fear which any parent can relate to, when it comes to the safety and protection of their family.”

Wilson is repped by UTA and the deal was negotiated by attorney Robert Wallerstein.

Earlier this month, Crime Scene Pictures announced they are producing SUSPIRIA, based on Dario Argento’s 1977 film of the same name with David Gordon Green attached to direct.  They are currently in pre-production on EVERLY, a thriller starring Kate Hudson with Joe Lynch directing from a Black List script by Yale Hannon which Sierra / Affinity virtually sold out on at EFM in Berlin last month.

Formed in 2010, Crime Scene Pictures is backed by private equity from ArtPhyl and finances/produces 2-3 feature films per year. They are in post-production on GAMBIT, a comedy written by Academy Award Winners Joel and Ethan Coen which stars Academy Award Winner Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman and Stanley Tucci which CBS Films will release this fall.