Netflix has expanded its relationship with actor Alan Ritchson beyond his hit film "War Machine," signing him to a first-look feature deal and unveiling their first project together: an untitled heist thriller set in the world of MotoGP motorcycle racing. The agreement, struck through Ritchson's Dancing Skeleton production company, sees Netflix doubling down on him as a bankable leading man following the strong performance of his previous action vehicle, and comes alongside a separate move into producing unscripted television.

The MotoGP film follows a former racing prodigy, played by Ritchson, recruited by Interpol to hunt down a gang of motorcycle thieves stealing priceless antiquities, only to discover the ringleader may be his brother, long presumed dead. "Fast & Furious" writer Chris Morgan, who scripted seven instalments of that franchise, is penning the film, which was pitched to Netflix as "Fast & Furious with motorcycles"; MotoGP itself has signed on to consult on production. "War Machine" reportedly notched 139.9 million views in its first 91 days, landing at No. 10 on Netflix's most popular films list, while Ritchson is also set to headline Jaume Collet-Serra's action thriller "Maelstrom" and lead an unscripted survival competition series for the streamer.