What began back in a little movie calledThe Mummy Returnsand one-off appearances in beloved TV shows of yesteryear likeThat ‘70s ShowandStar Trek: Voyager, have carriedDwayne Johnsonbeyond the ropes of the ring and onto the red carpets of Hollywood. The pro-wrestler-turned-actor has been building his professional legacy for decades, working in every genre under the sun, and the time has finally come for him to dig his heels into a new kind of challenge. Leaving the world offamily friendly feel-good moviesandhigh-octane featuresbehind, Johnson’s latest role dips into a much darker persona than he’s used to — and he’s never been more ready.
Following last week’s announcement that the actor had been tapped to join the cast ofA24’s upcoming psychological thriller,Breakthrough, Johnson took to his social media to share his gratitude and excitement about the opportunity to crack into the story, writing,
“I’ve been very hungry (and grateful) for this kind of challenge. The story is a deep dark psychological dive into the culture of motivational “gurus”, and those souls seeking to find their greater purpose in life. It’s a character I can attempt to unhinge. And perhaps rip open.”
For now, Johnson is the only name attached to the project, with no other casting announcements made at this time. The same can be said for the movie’s director, although we know the screenplay hails fromZeke Goodman, who launched his career as an actor on Amazon’s series reboots ofI Know What You Did Last SummerandCruel Intentions. As forBreakthrough’s story, it’s set in Southern California just as the Y2K hype is coming to an end, and will follow a young man who finds himself drawn in by the charisma of a motivational guru who toes the line of morality with his manipulative tactics. Johnson has been cast as the guru, putting him in a role unlike any we’ve seen from the star before, but one that certainly sounds like the right fit — one that you could even say he’s likely torock.
‘Breakthrough’ Marks a Reunion Between Its Star and Studio
His casting inBreakthroughsets a reunion into motion between Johnson and the film’s studio, A24, as the duo are currently preparing to releaseThe Smashing Machine. The biographical drama, which is helmed and penned byBenny Safdie(Uncut Gems), will toss the wrestling superstar back into the ring, but this time as ex-MMA fighter,Mark Kerr. Set to release on October 3, the film also starsEmily Blunt(The Fall Guy).
Check out Johnson’s full Instagram message above and stay tuned to Collider for further updates aboutBreakthrough.
The Smashing Machine
