YouTube Announces New Original 'Red' Shows From Dan Harmon, Doug Liman And Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

YouTube has announced that it will be adding more original content to its YouTube Red subscription video service including a new series that will be executive produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. YouTube Red has also tapped Dan Harmon and Doug Liman to produce different shows as well.

Johnson, former WWE wrestler and now a TV and movie star, will be producing the new series along with Studio71 and Corridor Digital. The half-hour series currently has the working title “Lifeline” and it will be a sci-fi show dealing with time-travel. Johnson, who’s currently shooting the “Jumanji” remake in Hawaii, took to Twitter to announce the new YouTube Red series.

“Lifeline” will be set in the near future when a life insurance company is capable of sending its agents 33 days into the future to save their clients. Charlie Hooks, the main protagonist of the show, is the company’s top agent who’s life is changed after dealing with one case, according to The Wrap.

Meanwhile, Dan Harmon, who’s mostly known for creating “Community” and “Rick and Morty,” will be producing a comedy show starring YouTube’s Dan Avidan and Arin Hanson from “Game Grumps.” Avidan and Hanson will be playing eSports fans who forms their own eSport team to join the competitive gaming industry.

In addition, Doug Liman, who’s most notable directorial works include “The Bourne Identity,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” will be producing the sci-fi series “Impulse,” which is based on the Steven Gould novel of the same name. Liman also directed the 2008 film “Jumper,” which was also an adaptation of Gould’s 1992 book.

Like “Jumper,” “Impulse” will be about people who have the power of teleportation. This time, however, the story will focus on a young girl who discovers her ability to teleport. “Impulse” will be the first series made by YouTube Red in partnership with Universal Cable Productions. The pilot is scheduled to go into production before the end of 2016.

With YouTube ramping up its slate of original content, it looks as though that the company is really serious about it. It does appear like YouTube Red wants to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon, but the company is not trying to do it their own way.

“Our goal is to be uniquely YouTube,” global head of content for YouTube Susanne Daniels said according to Variety. “And out thesis is simple: Identify YouTube’s most engaging stars and top genres, and invest in the content that fans tell us they want. In other words, let our community drive our content.”

All of the three new shows will debut in 2017. The new shows can only be watched ad-free if users are subscribed to YouTube Red which costs $9.99 a month. In addition to announcing the new shows, YouTube also revealed that it has renewed “Scare PewDiePie” and “Foursome” for second seasons, while Rooster Teeth’s “Lazer Team” is getting a sequel.