Dwayne Johnson really wants you to take him seriously as an actor. He made a point to focus on acting performances and we’ll soon see the results of that when The Smashing Machine arrives this October. Following that, he’s got Martin Scorsese’s Hawaii-set crime movie that he had a hand in writing. And now Johnson is gearing up for another non-blockbuster movie as Deadline reports he’ll take a supporting role in the psychological thriller Breakthrough.
Penned by Zeke Gordon, the film is described as being “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.
Johnson will reportedly play the guru, which sounds like a different kind of role for him. Currently, there is no director attached but it should attract a big name filmmaker. Casting for the lead role is still underway.
Breakthrough reteams Johnson with A24, who are working with him on The Smashing Machine. His partnership with the studio is part of a clear effort to refocus his career towards more dramatic roles, a long way from his “Franchise Viagra” days.
