As Dwayne Johnson heads to an A24 indie drama directed by Benny Safdie, the actor confirms he’s trying something new and more dramatic with his career.
In some welcome news at the end of last year, we learned that Dwayne Johnson would be working with acclaimed director Benny Safdie on (what we believe will be) an indie drama bought to us by A24.
While Johnson’s success in conquering Hollywood following a popular stint as a professional wrestler should never be overlooked, it’s fair to say that his career over the last decade has offered increasingly little in the way of challenge or interest as he has increasingly plumped for roles that might be deemed as ‘safe’ or (shudder) ‘brand-friendly.’
There’s even folks out there that speculate Johnson has been choosing bland films and characters so they won’t hurt the tequila business he often champions onscreen during his films. That, or perhaps that he’s fostering a squeaky clean image to prepare for a political run at some point.
True or not, the fact that this kind of chatter is out there suggests that some quarters of Johnson’s audience feel he has been wasting his obvious talents (and incredible work ethic) for too long now.
Read more: A24 is changing its release strategy – can the world’s coolest movie studio pull it off?
In a new interview, Johnson himself has weighed in on this topic, confirming that his casting in A24’s The Smashing Machine is indeed an attempt at a career shift of sorts.
“Benny wants to create, and continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting,” Johnson told Variety.
“I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”
Does that mean no more big blockbusters? Of course not. Johnson is quick to assert that he’ll still make those films too, adding “I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies. I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them] … but there’s a time and a place for them. I’m at this point in my career where I want more. And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity.”
We’re certainly glad that Johnson is aiming to give his career an added dimension, but who knows? Taking on a smattering of more dramatic roles might even develop his approach to some of those ‘big, four-quadrant movies’ he mentions. We’ll bring you more on The Smashing Machine as we hear it.
