Dwayne Johnson wants to do more dramatic work on “films that matter”

nme.com:

Dwayne Johnson has signalled his intentions to work on more dramatic films, in a move away from the action blockbusters that made him famous.The Hollywood star and former professional wrestler has been announced as the lead in the upcoming biopic The Smashing Machine, which will tell the story of the MMA fighter and UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Kerr.The film, an A24 production, is set to be written and directed by Benny Safdie, one half of the Safdie Brothers, who made films including Uncut Gems and Good Time.Speaking to Variety about the film and his move to more serious acting, Johnson said: “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.”“I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies,” he continued. “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. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”It emerged this week that the Safdie Brothers, Benny and Josh, had separated.

Benny was quoted as saying the split had been “amicable”.“It’s a natural progression of what we each want to explore. I will direct on my own, and I will explore things that I want to explore.