Action Park to become a Johnny Knoxville movie

It was bound to happen someday. The dangerous reputation of NJ's old Action Park has finally been recognized by Hollywood for its comedic potential. Johnny Knoxville of "Jackass" fame is set to star in a movie based on the Vernon water park. Not the more tame version that re-opened a few years ago. But rather the one that gained infamy between 1978 to 1984 and was linked to six deaths and countless injuries.

In an interview with Deadline, Knoxville says, "The goal is a big, fun '80s-type comedy. It's about this park in New Jersey. It actually existed. I don't know if we'll call it this, but there was this park called Action Park and it was like as if us, instead of doing 'Jackass,' decided to open a theme park. It has that same spirit, like all the safety was left up to the people who walked in.

The design of the rides was built about as cleverly as we build things. I mean most of the kids were like early 20s or teens, and I suspect they were not sober a lot. The stories about Action Park are well documented. In our movie, we have this theme park where I'm the designer of the rides."

Speaking of well documented, here's a brief documentary I found on the dark, insane reputation of Action Park. Warning: NSFW due to some language.

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