News

Dwayne Johnson has joined the cast of the A24 psychological thriller ‘Breakthrough.’

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 is said to be playing the role of the guru.

Also in news – Emile Hirsch & Justin Long set for horror ‘Lice’

Search for a director and further casting is currently underway on the project which is penned by up-and-comer Zeke Goodman.

Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions will produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, with Jacob Epstein and Justin Wolf to exec produce via Lighthouse Management and Media.

The post Dwayne Johnson joins cast of A24’s psychological thriller ‘Breakthrough appeared first on HeyUGuys.

After getting in the ring for Benny Safdie’s upcoming biographical sports drama, The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson and A24 are looking for a rematch when Johnson co-stars in the studio’s newly-announced project, Breakthrough, a psychological thriller from A Little Prophet, Rat Bastard, and Peacocking writer Zeke Goodman.

Set in turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, Deadline says the story of Breakthrough follows an alienated young man who comes under the influence of a motivational guru. The guru’s intoxicating charm masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness. Deadline’s exclusive report says they expect Johnson to play the supporting role of the guru, with casting for the young man and other roles ongoing. The project has yet to land a director, but it’s only a matter of time. A24 will produce and finance the project, with Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions producing alongside Johnson...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson most often plays the heroic protagonist in his feature films, but he's going to be changing things up a bit with his next role. The actor s latest casting has just been revealed, and it seems that Johnson is playing the antagonist.

Per Deadline, Johnson has signed on to star in Breakthrough, a psychological thriller written by Zeke Goodman. The project comes from A24, the studio behind Johnson's upcoming Mma drama, The Smashing Machine, which features the WWE legend portraying real-life fighter Mark Kerr. Currently, Breakthrough doesn't have a director, and no other co-stars beyond Johnson have yet been named. Casting is reportedly underway.

The film is set at the turn of the millennium in Southern California. It will reportedly follow 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.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will play a manipulative motivational guru Breakthrough for A24, Deadline reports.

The psychological thriller is written by Zeke Goodman, who starred in Prime’s short-lived “I Know What You Did Last Summer” series.

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.

The search for a director and a lead actor are underway.

A24 will produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions and Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions (Heretic), with Jacob Epstein and Justin Wolf executive producing via Lighthouse Management & Media.

Breakthrough will mark Johnson’s second collaboration with A24 following the Mma drama The Smashing Machine, opening in theaters on October 3.

Zeke Goodman in “I Know What You Did Last Summer”

The post...

Exclusive: After working with A24 on The Smashing Machine, the anticipated Mma drama out later this year, Dwayne Johnson is looking to get back in business with the studio. Sources tell Deadline that he’s come aboard to co-star in Breakthrough, a psychological thriller penned by up-and-comer Zeke Goodman.

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. We’re told Johnson will play the supporting role of the guru, with casting still underway for the lead role and other supporting parts.

There’s no director on the project yet, but it will be produced and financed by A24. Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions will produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, with Jacob Epstein and Justin Wolf to...

The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) was everywhere. In 2001, he was already a wrestling superstar and was also on the verge of being a fixture in Hollywood. He was the mainstream superstar WWE was looking for (since Hulk Hogan left the company). Meanwhile, Trish Stratus, who debuted in 2000, became very popular at the same time. It didn’t hurt that she became popular with the predominantly male audience of the WWE.

So, when these two were locked in a mini-storyline with the power-hungry Vince McMahon, people started to notice their on-screen chemistry. They had a segment where both of these stars kissed each other, and fans began to ask questions about what was happening backstage.

Bob Holly and Ivory thought that The Rock and Trish Stratus had an affair

According to Bob Holly (fka Hardcore Holly), there was a relationship. In his autobiography titled ‘The Hardcore Truth: The Bob Holly Story...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson decided to hustle for the muscle as the producer of a feature film adaptation of Ripped, a short story by Joe Ballarini, as part of Seven Bucks Productions' first-look deal with The Walt Disney Company. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Studios has acquired the rights to the movie, which will be produced by Seven Bucks' Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, as well as 12:01's Scott Glassgold, who launched his company in December with the aim of identifying short stories to bring to the screen.

Despite Johnson's physique, the actor is not currently attached to star in Ripped, though there are no casting details at this early stage, so anything could happen. Whoever ends up landing the lead role in the movie will be playing "an insecure man who, in anticipation of his wedding day, enters a hardcore underground training facility led by a magnetic fitness guru,...

In a pre-emptive purchase, 20th Century Studios has muscled in on the rights to Ripped, a short story by Joe Ballarini for an adaptation to be produced by Seven Bucks and 12:01 Films.

Seven Bucks’ Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Hiram Garcia, as well as 12:01’s Scott Glassgold are the gym rats, um, producers, on this one.

While Johnson is not currently attached to star in Ripped, there does seem to be a character for which he could go beast mode. The logline concerns an insecure man who, in anticipation of his wedding day, enters a hardcore underground training facility led by a magnetic fitness guru, who commands cult like devotion with the promise of peak performance at any cost.

Ballarini is set to adapt his short story. Separately, the writer has landed a deal with Simon & Schuster/Atria new horror imprint 12:01 Books to expand the short story into a novel.

A24 has unveiled the first trailer for Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine.

Dwayne Johnson stars in the biopic as mixed martial artist Mark Kerr atthe peak of his powers during the no-holds-barred era of the UFC, as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt.

A24 produced and financedThe Smashing Machineand has it dated for an October 3 release in North America.

Safdie produces through his company Out for the Count, alongside Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions, David Koplan and Eli Bush.

Cannes 2025 major market...

Dwayne Johnson undergoes his most dramatic on-screen transformation yet in the first trailer for “The Smashing Machine,” a biopic about two-time UFC heavyweight champ Mark Kerr. A24 pulled the curtain back on the drama Tuesday morning.

Benny Safdie, one of the two Safdie brothers who co-directed and wrote “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time,” makes his solo directorial feature debut on the film. In addition to Johnson, the cast includes Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin and Oleksandr Usyk. “The Smashing Machine” is Johnson and Blunt’s second collaboration since Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” in 2021, and they’re set to next team with Leonardo DiCaprio on a Hawaiian crime thriller from Martin Scorsese.

Kerr was a mixed martial artist who fought from 1997 to 2009, winning four Adcc World Championships in his career. In 2002, Kerr was the subject of an HBO documentary also entitled “The Smashing Machine,...

Dwayne Johnson is smashing stereotypes with A24 feature “The Smashing Machine.” The actor, who is set to also star in Martin Scorsese’s Hawaii-set true crime mob drama, is first making his indie debut with Benny Safdie’s biopic about UFC legend Mark Kerr. Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk co-star.

Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions acquired the rights to “The Smashing Machine” in 2019. A24 later joined as a partner in 2023. Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions produce alongside Safdie’s Out for the Count banner, Eli Bush, Hiram Garcia, and David Koplan. The film marks Safdie’s first solo directing effort sans brother Josh Safdie; Benny Safdie also penned the script based on Kerr’s real-life story and rise in the UFC. Per the initial A24 announcement, Johnson’s most dramatic project yet follows Mma fighter Kerr’s career peak during the “no-holds-barred era...

The Rock has been an icon in the WWE and even in Hollywood. He has made waves through his energetic performances inside the ring and has a huge fan following. Though he is known for his in-ring action, the people’s champion also had a fair share of romance in the WWE.

In 2001, The Rock was involved in a kissing segment with Trish Stratus backstage. Now that he is 52, he is happily married and is away from all the romantic drama in the WWE at present. However, the People’s Champion had some peculiar love fantasies, and in his autobiography, he speaks about his unique love for older women.

The Rock and his love for older women

The Rock, or Dwayne Johnson, is one of the top faces in the WWE, and he made waves when he broke into Hollywood. He had a unique way of presenting himself, and this...

Saturday Morning Cartoons are back with the arrival of RoboForce: The Animated Series. The cartoon show is set to launch on Tubi on Saturday, April 12, and ahead of the debut, Cbr can unveil an exclusive sneak peek.

RoboForce: The Animated Series is a new animated show produced by Nacelle and Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions. It is based on the nostalgic toys from the 1980s, continuing the narrative of the story that was originally established by the robot action figures at the time. The animation style is also reminiscent of the Saturday Morning Cartoons of the era, and Cbr's sneak peek of the series can be seen below.

The official synopsis for RoboForce: The Animated Series reads, "In 2089 Detroit, Soraya Aviram's RoboForce debuted with plans to assist a new intergalactic society on Earth. Unfortunately, the same day as the announcement, Soraya's rival, Silas Duke, revealed his new Utopia Aegis 101 line of bots,...

A24 has scheduled Benny Safdie’s Mark Kerr mixed martial arts biopic The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson for an October 3 release.

The film follows Kerr at the peak of his powers during the no-holds-barred era of the UFC, as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt.

A24 produced and financed the film and introduced the package at Cannes last year when Johnson flew in to meet international buyers. There has been talk about a potential awards play for the A-lister and star of films like the Fast And Furious films,...

Exclusive: A24’s Dwayne Johnson-starring and Benny Safdie-directed The Smashing Machine, about Mma fighter Mark Kerr, has set a theatrical release date of October 3, 2025.

The news comes in the wake of Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael looking to vacate that date as it mulls a two-part release strategy. The Smashing Machine now pushes its way onto a weekend against Paramount’s Derek Cianfrance-directed Roofman starring Channing Tatum, and Neon’s next Oz Perkins horror film The Keeper. That’s the quite the auteur brawl.

Safdie also wrote and produced Smashing Machine, which features Johnson’s The Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt.

Pic follows Kerr (Johnson) from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationships. Meanwhile, Mark’s girlfriend Dawn Staples (Blunt) struggles as well to find her place in Mark’s chaotic and contradictory world.

Martin Scorsese’s untitled, Hawaiian-set crime drama is saying “Aloha” to 20th Century Studios, which has landed the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt already attached. The film will have a script by Nick Bilton, based on an idea by Blunt.

The official synopsis reads: “In 1960s and ’70s Hawaii, a formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land. Based on the untold true story of a man who fought to preserve his homeland through a ruthless quest for absolute power — igniting the last great American mob saga, where the war for cultural survival takes place in the unlikeliest of places: paradise.”

Scorsese (for his Sikelia Productions), Johnson (for his Seven Bucks Productions), DiCaprio (for his Appian Way Productions) and Blunt (for her Ledbury Productions...

Disney’s 20th Century Studios is saying “aloha” to Martin Scorsese’s Hawaii-set crime thriller starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt (with whom the concept and film idea originated).

Journalist and author Nick Bilton will pen the script for the film, which will be based on a forthcoming book he’s co-authored with Johnson.

“In 1960s and 70s Hawaii, a formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land,” the film’s official log line reads. “Based on the untold true story of a man who fought to preserve his homeland through a ruthless quest for absolute power — igniting the last great American mob saga, where the war for cultural survival takes place in the unlikeliest of places: paradise.”

Producers include Scorsese for Sikelia Productions, Johnson for Seven Bucks Productions,...

Surf’s up for 20th Century Studios.

The Disney division has picked up the Hawaii-set crime thriller package that has Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt attached to star, and Martin Scorsese attached to direct.

Lei-ed with a script by journalist and author Nick Bilton, the fact-based untitled movie is said to be in the mold of Scorsese’s Goodfellas and The Departed and center on a mob boss vying for control of the Hawaiian islands in the 1960s and 1970s.

All the players will also be producers on the project: Scorsese is producing via his Sikelia Productions banner, Johnson via Seven Bucks Productions, DiCaprio via his Appian Way Productions, and Blunt through her Ledbury Productions company. Bilton is producing through his banner, True Story Productions, as well.

The project’s origins come from the ‘ohana-like bond between Blunt and Johnson. The concept and film idea originated from Blunt.

Exclusive: One of the biggest pic packages is about to land at Disney, Deadline hears.

This is the pitch for a Martin Scorsese-directed drama that would star Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt. The thumbnail description: Imagine Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent character from Goodfellas but as a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, also based on a real figure, who battled encroaching rivals for control of organized crime on the islands.

Deadline broke the project in February. It is a pricey package given the local and above-the-line star power, and numerous distributors were bidding. This being a decidedly adult film, it fits nicely under the 20th Century banner, home to upcoming films including Deliver Me From Nowhere, the Scott Cooper-directed drama about the existential crisis that led Bruce Springsteen to hole up in a room and generate his seminal Nebraska album. The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White plays The Boss,...

Dwayne Johnson’s incredible journey from a WWE star to a Hollywood superstar is well known, but only a few wrestling enthusiasts are aware of the struggles in his personal life.

In an interview with WSJ Magazine, Dwayne Johnson opened up about his difficult situation after his divorce from Dany Garcia and why he was initially hesitant to marry his current wife, Lauren Hashian.

Why was Dwayne Johnson hesitant to commit to his 2nd wife? The Rock and his daughters | credit- @The Rock/X

The Rock revealed that his divorce from his ex-wife and business partner left a lasting impact on Dwayne Johnson, which made him hesitant before committing again.

“My divorce did a number on me. I wasn’t fearful of getting married again, there was just some hesitancy. But Lauren was incredibly patient: ‘I love you, you love me, we have this amazing life together — no presh.’ ” The Rock told WSJ magazine.

For years, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have kept the world guessing about the true nature of their relationship. While legally married, Jada once described their split as “not a divorce on paper. But it was a divorce.”

That cryptic statement from 2022 revealed that the Hollywood power couple had been living separate lives since 2016—long before the infamous Oscars slap that shook Will’s career.

Despite the separation, Jada remains an influential figure in Will’s life. Even after her 2020 revelation about her affair with singer August Alsina, Will has seemingly struggled to move on.

Recently, Will made headlines again, this time for a steamy on-stage moment with Spanish singer India Martinez at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards in Miami. The intimate performance ignited romance rumors, but insiders suggest that it was more about making a statement than a genuine love connection. “Shameless” as some critics called it, the...

As Emmy For Your Consideration season gets underway this week, CBS and the Television Academy have revealed the date and time for this year’s 77th Emmy Awards telecast: Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. Et / 5 p.m. Pt.

The 77th Emmys will air live throughout the mainland on CBS, as well as streaming on Paramount+ (for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers). The kudocast will also be available to watch on demand the next day for all Paramount+ users. The Emmys will once again take place at Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. Live complex.

That means that the two-night Creative Arts Emmys, which usually take place the weekend before the Primetime Emmys telecast, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7. Hosts and producers for the 77th Emmys telecast, as well as the Creative Arts events, will be announced in the future.

As previously announced, the 77th Emmys...

The Television Academy on Tuesday revealed six appointees named to the Board of Governors Executive Committee in May will return for the 2025 term.

They are Paul Buccieri, president and chairman, A+E Networks Group; Dany Garcia, founder, CEO and chairwoman, The Garcia Companies, and co-founder, Seven Bucks Productions; Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of NBC Entertainment; John Landgraf, chairman, FX; Amy Reisenbach, president, CBS Entertainment; and Brandon Riegg, vice president, nonfiction series, Netflix.

They will advise Chair Chris Abrego on the organization’s direction and its core initiatives and work with the Television Academy’s officers and the board of governors to guide the Academy throughout the year.

Additionally, the Academy’s Board of Governors has elected the following Peer Group Governors as their representatives on the Executive Committee for the 2025 term: Wendy Aylsworth (Science & Technology), Eddie Bonin (Special Visual Effects), David Hartle (Production Executives) and Christina Lee (Public Relations). They join...

Seven Bucks Production has found a new partner for their upcoming titles. According to Deadline, the production company created by Dwayne Johnsonand Dany Garcia has signed a first-look deal with 20th Television. The announcement comes a few months after the company signed a first-look deal with Disney related to their theatrical division. The new deal will include a wide range of projects, from drama shows to animated shows aimed at an adult audience stealing the spotlight thanks to the two companies.

Exclusive: 20th Television has closed a first-look TV deal with Seven Bucks Productions, the production company co-founded by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia. The pact brings Seven Bucks fully under the Walt Disney Co. umbrella after the label last June signed a first-look deal with the Disney movie studio to develop films for theatrical and streaming.

Under the pact with 20th TV, part of Disney TV Studios, Johnson, Garcia, and Seven Bucks’ television team, led by President of Production Hiram Garcia, Head of Television Scott Landsman and EVP of Development & Production Kimberly Bialek, will develop and executive produce comedy, drama, adult animation, limited and unscripted series for linear networks and streamers, with an emphasis on platforms across Disney Entertainment Television.

After starring roles in a couple of Disney movies from the 2000s, including The Game Plan and Race to Witch Mountain, Johnson returned to the media conglom as Seven Bucks...

Leonardo DiCaprio is teaming with Martin Scorsese for a drama about the criminal underworld in Hawaii.The 'Revenant' actor is set to continue his long collaboration with the 82-year-old director in the currently-untitled movie, which will also star 'Jungle Cruise' co-stars Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt and is set in the 1960s and 70s.According to Deadline, Nick Bilton is writing the script for the movie and will follow a formidable mob boss who rises to build the most powerful criminal empire on the islands, waging war against his rival groups and mainland corporattitons, while also fighting to preserve his ancestral land.It is based on an untold true story of a man who fought to preserve his homeland through a "ruthless quest for absolute power".Blunt and Johnson - who has long wanted to make a movie in his native Hawaii - are said to...

Martin Scorsese is lining up a major new project, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the hottest packages in Hollywood. The legendary director is set to helm a crime drama starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt. The film, currently untitled, will be written by journalist and author Nick Bilton and is inspired by real events.

The story focuses on a powerful and ruthless Hawaiian crime boss in the 1960s and 70s, a figure reminiscent of Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent from Goodfellas. This mob leader fought to establish dominance in Hawaii’s criminal underworld, battling mainland syndicates and corporate interests while striving to protect his homeland.

The film is described as a sweeping crime saga, marking another venture into the gangster genre for Scorsese, who previously explored similar themes in The Departed and Goodfellas.

This project brings together an impressive team of producers,...

Martin Scorsese has finally found his new movie, and he has assembled an eclectic cast that includes long-time collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, 2024 Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Scorsese is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers ever to live, and since the release of Killers of the Flower Moon, he has been circling many projects. Fans wondered if the Sinatra biopic, a film centered on Jesus Christ, or the recently announced The Devil in the White City would be his next film. It turns out none of those projects are up next for Scorsese.

Deadline confirmed that Martin Scorsese will direct an untitled crime drama that follows a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss in the 1960s and '70s based on a real-life person who battled encroaching rivals in Hawaii for control of organized crime on the island. The film is being written by Nick Bilton, a journalist...

Martin Scorsese may be executive producing the buzzy “Cape Fear” series adaptation, but the auteur is actually looking to get wet with a different seaside project: a Hawaii-set true crime mob drama starring Dwayne Johnson.

Deadline first reported the yet-untitled film. IndieWire can confirm from a source close to the project that Johnson and his frequent collaborator Emily Blunt approached Scorsese with the feature, who then brought in actor/producer Leonardo DiCaprio. The script is being commissioned by Nick Bilton, who produced HBO documentary “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley.”

The drama is set to star Johnson as a real-life aspiring mob boss who battled rival crime clans to control the Hawaiian islands in the 1960s. Scorsese, Johnson, Blunt, DiCaprio, and Bilton will all executive produce, along with Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette, and Rick Yorn.

Blunt and Johnson have worked together on “Jungle Cruise” and will co-star in...

Director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio have made six movies together so far – Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) – and they’re always looking to get another collaboration off the ground. Recently, we’ve heard rumblings that they could reunite for a Frank Sinatra biopic or the true crime serial killer project The Devil in the White City. Now, there’s another Scorsese / DiCaprio project being pitched, as Deadline reports that Jungle Cruise and Smashing Machine co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are attached to star in a Scorsese-directed, Hawaii-set crime drama alongside DiCaprio.

Nick Bilton is set to write the screenplay for the film. Here’s what Deadline has heard about it: Imagine Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent character from Goodfellas, but as a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, based on a real figure,...

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are attached to produce a new film based on an original idea from Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

The Hawaii-set crime caper, which is currently being shopped to studios and streamers, is drawing comparisons in the industry to “The Departed” and “Goodfellas.” Even in spirit, there are no deals in place and the viability of the project depends on a distributor, according to multiple sources familiar with the package, but the untitled drama is set to be written by author and journalist Nick Bilton, who helmed the 2021 HBO documentary “Fake Famous.”

Johnson and Blunt, who previously worked together on “Jungle Cruise,” brought the project to Scorsese and DiCaprio, and once they expressed interest, they all went to Bilton to ask him about writing.

Producers on the forthcoming film include Scorsese, Johnson, Blunt, DiCaprio, Bilton, Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette and Rick Yorn.

If the filmmakers seem ambitious,...

Martin Scorsese is looking to make a splash with a star-studded crime package set in Hawaii.

A new package that hit the town would star Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt. Scorsese would direct the feature from a script by journalist and author Nick Bilton.

The fact-based untitled movie is said to be in the mold of Goodfellas and The Departed and center on a mob boss vying for control of the Hawaiian islands in the 1960s and 1970s.

Scorsese, Johnson, Blunt, DiCaprio, Bilton, Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette and Rick Yorn serve as producers.

Bilton is known for such previous projects as HBO’s The Idol and the Netflix series Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal.

The Hollywood Reporter reported last month that DiCaprio was in talks to star in a Scorsese-directed adaptation of Erik Larson’s best-selling book The Devil in the White City. The pair are known...

Exclusive: The hot package in town is a pitch for a Martin Scorsese-directed untitled drama that would star Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.

The thumbnail description: Imagine Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent character from Goodfellas, but as a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, based on a real figure, who battled encroaching rivals for control of organized crime in Hawaii.

To be written by Nick Bilton, the film focuses on a turbulent time on the island paradise when an aspiring mob boss battled rival crime factions to wrest control of the underworld of the Hawaiian islands. It was a bloody battle, the kind of terrain Scorsese covered in both Goodfellas and The Departed. In 1960s and 70s Hawaii, this formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land.

Red One can't catch a break. The 2024 Christmas action film premiered on Nov. 15 to unfortunate reviews, and it's being criticized again, three months after its release in theaters.

Red One stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Chris Evans in a Christmas action film with a mission to save Christmas. J.K. Simmons takes the role of a very different Santa Claus, and the film earned positive reviews from the audience, despite being critically panned. Unfortunately, it flopped at the box office, and now VFX experts further criticized the film on the YouTube channel Corridor Crew.

Related'There Still Isn't Enough': Lucy Liu Says Diversity in Hollywood Still Has a Long Way to Go

Lucy Liu speaks about her career and the lack of diversity in Hollywood.

In a new video release on their channel, VFX experts Wren, Niko, and Sam addressed the CGI in Secret Level, Red One, and Twilight of the Warriors.

Red One, the 2024 Christmas blockbuster starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, has already been slayed by almost every critic around. But now it's time for professional VFX artists to take their fair shots at the most expensive movie of last year, as the beloved Corridor Crew have lined up Red One in their CGI crosshairs. Red One starred Johnson as Callum Drift, the head of security at the North Pole, who enlists the help of a professional hacker, Jack O'Malley (Evans), to rescue Santa (J.K. Simmons) when he's kidnapped. The movie was ravaged by critics, currently sitting at 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the opinions of VFX artists might be even harsher.

"So this is a $250 million movie, huh?" said Corridor Crew's Niko before being shown the snowmobile chase. "This does not look like $250 million worth of CGI," was his immediate reaction after watching five seconds of the scene. The crew...

Tubi has officially acquired the new animated show RoboForce: The Animated Series. Set to start streaming for free on the platform in April, the series has also been given an official trailer.

Per Deadline, RoboForce: The Animated Series is a sci-fi show that consists of six half-hour episodes, all of which will be available to watch for free on the ad-supported service. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is among the producers of the show, and the Hollywood icon shared the official trailer for RoboForce: The Animated Series on his official YouTube account. It can be watched below.

Related Dwayne Johnson's $428M Video Game Adaptation Is Coming to Prime Video

Moana 2's Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in the big-budget action movie inspired by a Midway classic game, coming to Prime Video.

The official synopsis reads, "Based on the nostalgic toys of the 1980s, the animated series will continue the...

Following his work co-producing Red One for Amazon MGM Studios, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his company Seven Bucks Productions is producing and promoting the upcoming sci-fi throwback show, RoboForce: The Animated Series. The series will premiere on Tubi this Spring, which means it's free! Johnson posted the trailer on his own YouTube channel today. Check out the synopsis for the show below:

"Based on the nostalgic toys of the 1980s, the animated series will continue the narrative inspired by the original robot action figures. In 2089 Detroit, Soraya Aviram's RoboForce debuted with plans to assist a new intergalactic society on Earth.

Unfortunately, the same day as the announcement, Soraya's rival, Silas Duke, revealed his new Utopia Aegis 101 line of bots, which made RoboForce immediately obsolete. RoboForce split up and was forced into menial jobs for 15 years without hope of ever being heroes... Until suddenly, the Utopia Aegis 101’s turn...

Red One Sets New Record on Prime Video ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

In its opening weekend, Red One attracted a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers, becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched film debut ever on Prime Video.

“Given the audience response to Red One both in theaters and on Prime Video, the film will be a perennial holiday favorite for years to come,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “Every film is different, and we are so grateful for the partnership with our filmmakers in collectively finding the right strategy to get this film in front of the widest possible audience. With Red One, there was no doubt that strategy needed to include a theatrical release and associated marketing campaign, which drove audiences to theaters and generated awareness for the film with viewers who would ultimately tune in on Prime Video. It’s rewarding to see our plan pay off for customers,...

As of December 15, 2024, Red One has grossed $92.5 million in the United States and Canada and $83 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $175.5 million.

In the United States and Canada, Red One was projected to gross $30–35 million from 4,032 theaters, with some independent sources predicting a debut as low as $25 million or as high as $40 million. The film made $10.9 million on its first day, including $3.7 million from Sunday and Thursday night previews. It debuted to $32.1 million, topping the box office.

In its second box office weekend, the film dropped 59% to $13.3 million, finishing in third behind newcomers Wicked and Gladiator II.

After a somewhat disappointing box office run, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans’s Christmas flick found its new home on Amazon Prime.

According to Amazon, the Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Christmas movie Red One pulled in 50 million viewers worldwide during its opening weekend on Prime Video (over four days...

It’s a December to remember for Prime Video. Per the streamer, the Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Christmas flick “Red One” attracted a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers in its opening weekend on Prime Video (measured over four days), becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched film debut ever on the streaming platform.

It’s a true Christmas miracle for the film, which boasted a Santa-sized $250 million budget and opened to just $32 million in the U.S. last month. Amazon MGM head of theatrical distribution Kevin Wilson hinted at the studio’s justification for spending big without requiring a lot of ticket sales in return, telling Variety in November, “Whether or not people like it, the value of these movies is different for our business model. … If we can put these movies out theatrically and cover our P&a [print and advertising] costs, why wouldn’t we? We’re getting a massive marketing campaign that’s...

Dwayne Johnson Refuses Hollywood’s Demands (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In his early Hollywood days, Dwayne Johnson—yes, The Rock—faced an uphill battle. He wasn’t just asked to learn lines and hit his marks; Hollywood wanted him to rewrite himself. Lose weight, stop working out, drop “The Rock,” and never mention wrestling again. The message was clear: fit the mold, or you’re out.

But Johnson didn’t play ball. “I wasn’t gonna conform to Hollywood. Hollywood was gonna conform to me,” he later revealed. That defiance became a game-changer.

Hollywood’s cookie-cutter expectations hit Johnson hard. Studios wanted him to shed the larger-than-life persona he’d built in wrestling and blend into the industry’s leading-man blueprint. To them, “The Rock” was just baggage.

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Fans of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have something exciting to look forward to this week. The actor's newest film, Red One, is imminently making its debut on streaming.

As announced by Amazon, Red One will officially become available for streaming on Prime Video on Dec. 12. The announcement comes as the movie continues its run in theaters ahead of the Christmas holiday. While the option remains there for filmgoers to check out the holiday action film on the big screen, putting Red One on Prime Video just ahead of Christmas will allow others at home to enjoy the new big-budget project featuring The Rock while looking for new holiday movies to watch this year.

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The synopsis for Red One reads,...

“Red One,” Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans’ new holiday-themed action comedy, is coming to Prime Video just in time for Christmas.

Though it’s still playing in theaters, “Red One” will be available on the streaming platform starting on Dec. 12. Directed by Jake Kasdan (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”), the film stars Johnson as the head of North Pole security and Evans as a notorious hacker and bounty hunter. When Santa Claus (played by J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped, the two must team up “in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas,” according to the film’s synopsis.

“Red One” also stars Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll and Wesley Kimmel. The Amazon MGM film has grossed $164 million at the worldwide box office so far after originally being set as a streaming-only release.

The film has garnered mainly negative reviews, with Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman writing that...

Red One has two more achievements to stuff in its stockings this holiday season. However, the Dwayne Johnson-led Christmas blockbuster looks even more unlikely to make back its hefty budget.

Via Collider, Red One made $12.8 million in North American cinemas during Thanksgiving weekend, bringing its domestic total to $76 million. Combine that tally with the $72 million Red One has earned in overseas territories, and the action comedy now stands at $148 million globally, bringing it closer to the $150 million mark. Along with that feat, Red One is now one of the top 25 highest-grossing movies of 2024, nipping The Beekeeper, the film led by Johnson's Hobbs & Shaw co-star Jason Statham, to make the list. These achievements add to a recent career box-office mark Johnson reached thanks to the film.

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Dwayne Johnson's youngest daughter Tiana previously refused to believe that her father was Maui in Disney's hit animated feature (and one of her favorite movies) Moana. But after Johnson's recent Instagram post that shows her and her sister Jasmine recording lines alongside him for its upcoming sequel Moana 2, it's now impossible for her to deny.

In addition to Tiana, 6, and Jasmine, 8, whom he had with his singer/producer wife Lauren Hashian, Johnson also shares another daughter, Simone, 23, with his ex-wife Dany Garcia. Simone, more widely known under her ring-name Ava Raine, has followed in her father's footsteps as a professional wrestler. Now, his two youngest have similarly started getting involved in his film career with cameos in the highly-anticipated Disney sequel Moana 2. Here's everything we know about the characters they're playing and how they fit into Moana's established magical world of Oceania.

4/5 Moana 2

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Writer-producer Chris Morgan was on the set of Hobbs & Shaw when Dwayne Johnson’s right-hand man, Hiram Garcia, started sharing his idea for Red One. They were shooting the Fast & Furious spinoff’s complicated car and helicopter chase near a cliff in ​​Kauai and, with red dirt flying everywhere, Morgan admits he could only pay so much attention to the premise at the time. But that evening, Garcia, who’s the president of Johnson’s Seven Bucks production company, persisted, opting to pitch the action-comedy’s overall plot involving Santa’s (J.K. Simmons) abduction and his head of security (Johnson) having to team up with a complicit rogue (Chris Evans) to recover him.

“I was prepared not to, but I really, really loved it. I was like, ‘I actually think you have a hopeful message that’s really cool and that the world could use.’ So we agreed to...

Red One decks the box-office halls by achieving its first major milestone since its release earlier this month. However, the Dwayne Johnson-led Christmas movie may not receive many more gifts during its theatrical run as it faces stiff competition from new and upcoming blockbusters.

Via Collider, Red One is expected to cross the $100 million mark at the global box office on Nov. 22, with $55 million coming from overseas territories. The news is encouraging considering Red One endured tough sledding with an underwhelming opening weekend in North American cinemas, making $32.1 million over its first three days. The film's early tally also helped Johnson cross the $14 billion mark for his career as he searches for his first major commercial hit since Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019.

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Even as Red One continues collecting more coal than acclaim following its release, the Christmas film bears gifts for its leading star. The newly-released action comedy secures Dwayne Johnson a new career box-office milestone.

Per Collider, Red One has made $83.2 million at the global box office since its premiere, with $32 million coming domestically and the remainder from overseas markets. With that tally, Johnson is closing in on a cumulative box office tally of $14 billion worldwide for his movies. The wrestler-turned-actor has also become one of the 15 highest-grossing stars at the domestic box office, overtaking acting legends Eddie Murphy and Steve Carell to reach that mark.

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Though Red One's box office start seems decent, the...

The principals of Seven Bucks Productions –Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia – are between The Rock and a hard place.

The 12-year-old film and TV shop was one of the earliest prototypes for a modern production company built around a megastar. These were businesses created to give more control and equity to figures like Johnson and his contemporaries. But as Hollywood struggles with consolidation and a cash crunch, scaling past the big name behind the brand may be essential for their long-term survival.

Some celebrity-backed companies have chosen to move into ancillary businesses beyond the movies and shows that made an actor an A-lister. Witherspoon, for instance, has become more consequential to book publishing than anyone might have predicted when Hello Sunshine launched. And Robbie and her partners at LuckyChap haven’t just made projects for the “Barbie” actress. Guided by great taste, they’ve partnered with cutting-edge creatives...

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson met his wife Lauren Hashian while filming The Game Plan in 2006. They didn’t start dating until 2007 when Johnson announced his separation from his first wife Dany Garcia. Johnson and Hashian dated for twelve years before they got married in Hawaii in 2019. They are parents to two daughters, Jasmine and Tiana.

Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian with their two kids | Credits: @laurenhashianofficial/Ig

Interestingly, Hashian is the daughter of Sib Hashian, who was the drummer for the famous rock band Boston. Her mother is Suzanne Hashian and she has two siblings, Aja and Adam. Hashian attended Emerson College in Boston, where she first discovered her talents.

Dwayne Johnson’s Wife Lauren Hashian Is A Musician Lauren Hashian in the music video of Ride The Wave | Credits: @laurenhashianofficial/Ig

Born to a famous musician, it was an obvious choice for Lauren Hashian to build a career in music.