Dwayne Johnson Set to Unleash His Dark Side in A24 Thriller 'Breakthrough'

Published: May 30, 2025

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is gearing up to showcase his acting chops in a new psychological thriller called Breakthrough, and he's "very hungry" for the challenge.

Johnson confirmed his involvement in the project on Instagram, sharing a screenshot of the Deadline article that broke the news. "I've been very hungry (and grateful) for this kind of challenge," he wrote. "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."

The film, set in turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, will see Johnson play a life coach who charms an alienated young man, but with a twist - his charming personality "masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness."

Johnson expressed his excitement to take on the complex character, saying "It's a character I can try to unhinge. And perhaps rip open."

This marks Johnson's second collaboration with A24, following his upcoming biopic The Smashing Machine, where he'll star alongside Emily Blunt as a UFC champion. The film is set to debut in theaters on October 3.

Check out Johnson in The Smashing Machine below:

Johnson will also assist with production duties via his Seven Bucks Productions company. A director is yet to be attached to the project, but actor and writer Zeke Goodman has been tapped to handle the script.

Breakthrough marks a departure from Johnson's usual action-packed roles in films like the Fast & Furious franchise and DC's Black Adam. Instead, he'll be diving into a darker, more psychological territory.

Stay tuned for more updates on Breakthrough and Johnson's other upcoming projects!

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