For an actor who played one of the most famous gimmicks in the realm of pro wrestling, Dwayne Johnson’s feats in the realm of acting have been quite underwhelming. This isn’t surprising, as in the past, the WWE icon has prioritized his brand image over the quality of his movies, contributing to several forgettable action features.
However, since the Black Adam debacle, it appears Johnson is going back to his roots, and his potential collaboration with one cinema great might change the infamous narrative surrounding his acting chops forever.
The Martin Scorsese film can change the discourse surrounding Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson has had a knack for working with directors for hire, which allowed him to be himself on the big screen. While it did work from a brand perspective, it has diluted his image as an actor, with some even claiming that he is incapable of acting. But with Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain, we’ve seen that the Jumanji star can indeed act under the right director, and his recent pitch for a Martin Scorsese-directed drama could change this sentiment for the better.
Per Deadline, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt will star and produce the untitled Martin Scorsese movie, which is described as an amalgamation between Goodfellas and The Departed. With multiple bids from studios reportedly already on the table, it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Dwayne Johnson finally stretched his acting chops with the upcoming A24 film
Scorsese isn’t the lone auteur that Johnson has been keen about joining forces with, as later this year, the WWE star will appear in the Safdie brothers’ A24 film The Smashing Machine, starring Emily Blunt. Speaking of the film, which is based on UFC star Mark Kerr, Johnson stressed that he wanted to challenge himself the “ways that I hadn’t been challenged.”
He told GQ:
There’s also a place for me, in my career, where the material is deeper, it allows me to sink my teeth into something deeper, richer.
Considering his WWE peers, John Cena and Dave Batista, have already proven to be pretty immaculate in the realm of acting, this could exponentially change the narrative around Johnson.
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