Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Red Notice’ at Regal LA Live. Photo: Kevin Mazur.
Preview:
- Dwayne Johnson is taking a role in new thriller ‘Breakthrough.’
- Zeke Goodman wrote the script about a potentially risky motivational guru.
- A24 is backing the movie.
Dwayne Johnson has been through a few phases in his career. He kicked off with supporting, action-focused roles in the likes of ‘The Mummy Returns,’ moved through the kid-friendly likes of ‘Tooth Fairy’ and slowly built himself into a movie-opening, franchise-launching, big-name machine.
But more recently, he’s revisited his attempts to branch out from the usual ‘Fast & Furious’ and ‘Jumanji material. Back in the day, he tried to stretch himself in the likes of ‘Southland Tales,’ but he’s been aiming for more success with the upcoming MMA biopic ‘The Smashing Machine.’
“The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend.”
MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC. Read the Plot
And he’s clearly had a good time working with ‘Smashing Machine’ studio A24 as Deadline reports that Johnson is looking to get back in business with the company for new psychological thriller ‘Breakthrough.’ So interested is the actor, he’s jumping aboard to produce and play a supporting role rather than the lead.
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What’s the story of ‘Breakthrough’?
Dwayne Johnson in ‘Superpowered: The DC Story.’ Photograph by Courtesy of Max/Warner Bros.
The new script comes courtesy of up-and-coming talent Zeke Goodman.
Set in turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, the movie follows an alienated young man who comes under the influence of a motivational guru, whose intoxicating charm masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness.
Johnson will play the role of the guru, with casting still underway for the lead role and other characters.
Goodman’s CV includes acting work on series such as ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer,’‘Cruel Intentions’ and ‘The Hunting Party.’ He’s also worked as a writer, director, producer and actor on a number of short films, and will be seen in upcoming mystery comedy movie ‘All That Glisters.’
A24 is financing the movie, while Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions will produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions.
What else is Dwayne Johnson up to?
Dwayne Johnson in Disney’s ‘Jungle Cruise.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2021 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Johnson continues to be a filmmaking powerhouse, in addition to keeping on down the movie star route of heading up a number of other businesses (a sports gear line, a tequila brand and a male grooming products company among them).
He’s attached as a producer to a variety of projects and is still looking for lead roles that challenge him.
Earlier this year, he set up ‘Ripped,’ an adaptation of the short story by Joe Ballarini, at 20th Century Studios, with an eye to produce via Seven Bucks and potentially star. He’s also set to star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt in an untitled Hawaiian crime pic to be directed by Martin Scorsese.
On the bigger scale front, he’s still attached to the franchise-extending likes of the ‘Jungle Cruise’ sequel, ‘Fast X: Part 2,’ and Disney’s live-action version of ‘Moana,’ in which he reprises the role of Maui that he voiced in the animated original.
That movie will be on screen July 10th next year.
And, of course, up next for the actor is the aforementioned ‘Smashing Machine,’ a biopic of fighter Mark Kerr, which is being seen a possible awards contender from director Benny Safdie, slated for release October 3rd.
When will ‘Breakthrough’ be on screens?
While the movie is listed as in pre-production, the fact that there’s no director on board yet, not to mention Johnson’s busy schedule, means we could be waiting a while for this –– unless the actor manages to squeeze it in among other gigs (and his many, many workouts).
Right now, A24 does not have a release date on the books.
Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine’. Photo: A24.
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