Following their collaboration on The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson and A24 have another project lined up: Breakthrough.
Who says movie stars aren’t self aware? You certainly can’t aim that barb at Dwayne Johnson, given how commited the actor seems to resculpting his public image in the wake of a damaging couple of years. While last year’s ‘bottlegate’ may have marked the nadir of the actor’s career trajectory, a damaging power struggle with Warner Bros executives over the future prominence of his Black Adam character at DC Films also highlighted how many felt Johnson had become far too interested in foregrounding his own brand, often at the expense of the work that he was producing.
While it may have been a difficult couple of years for Johnson in that regard, it’s worth noting that he was still 2024’s top earning actor, making a reported $88m from just two films, those being hugely expensive Red One and the hugely disappointing Moana 2. Still, despite making the actor megabucks, appearing in two franchise monoliths hardly gave the impression that he was keen to try and restore some artistic credibility to his career.
However, the actor’s next three projects appear to suggest that Johnson is keen to make that type of career change.
Next, he’ll be taking what is surely the biggest creative risk of his career, playing UFC fightter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Judging from the trailer, The Smashing Machine will chart the fighter’s career’s ups and downs, including his struggles with addiction.
Following that, the actor will be working with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on on a Hawaii-set crime thriller, which he is also producing and co-penning a book about the real-life events behind the proposed film.
And if that’s not enough of a boost to his artistic credibility, Deadline has revealed that Johnson will once again be working with A24 on a psychological thriller, Breakthrough.
Here’s the synopsis:
Set in turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, the story 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.
Naturally, Johnson will play the supporting role of the charismatic guru, with casting still underway for the other parts.
It’s become clear over the past few years that audiences have become tired with the way Johnson’s movie star image has been so carefully managed, so subvertng it in such a direct fashion feels again, like another step in the right direction for his career. There’s no director attached to to this one yet, but when we hear more, we’ll certainly let you know.
