Many, like us, are beyond excited to see Dwayne Johnson teaming up with director Benny Safdie and A24 for the UFC dramedy biopic “The Smashing Machine.” Now, the hulking actor is eyeing a grand reunion with the studio for the psychological thriller “Breakthrough,” taking on a bit of an odd role for the action star, which we’re all for, as he’ll be playing a motivational guru.
The A24 project was revealed by Deadline, who say that while “Breakthrough” has a script penned by actor-turned-screenwriter Zeke Goodman (“Cruel Intentions” series), it is currently without a director. We have to assume there is already a director search underway, given Johnson’s high-profile attachment as star and producer.
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“Breakthrough” takes place during the early 2000s, set in Southern California, as the outlet says the pic “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.”
Besides finding a director, the next big step is casting the role of the “alienated young man,” and it would likely be a meaty part for plenty of on-the-rise actors. From the film’s synopsis, there is a pretty good chance the movie might attempt to wade into the waters of the grim online world of male toxicity, although that’s just our impression.
A24 is producing and financing “Breakthrough” with a producing team that also consists of Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, with Jacob Epstein and Justin Wolf set to exec produce through Lighthouse Management & Media.
We can’t help but get excited by this new era for Johnson, as he is being a little more choosy with roles and making the effort to take on character-driven projects, that aren’t just relying on spectacle or VFX to do the heavy lifting for him. Johnson is also said to be lining up projects with Martin Scorsese and J.J. Abrams.
“The Smashing Machine,” which sees Emily Blunt co-starring with Johnson as we get to see an exploration of the life of professional fighter Mark Kerr, will hit theaters on October 3, and you can watch an exciting trailer below.
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