Dwayne Johnson to star in ‘Free Byrd’

Presenter Dwayne Johnson backstage during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars® at Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:

Dwayne Johnson will star in new drama ‘Free Byrd.’
He’ll play a motorcycle stuntman battling dementia.
Greg Kwedar is directing the movie.

Though he’s still popping up in big studio fare (his latest is Disney’s live-action ‘Moana’, where he reprises the role of Maui, with the movie now in theaters), Dwayne Johnson is also on one of his semi-regular bouts of stretching himself for more complicated fare.

As Variety reports, his latest attempt is ‘Free Byrd,’ in which he’ll play a stuntman hiding a troubling diagnosis from those around him.

He’ll no doubt be hoping for a better result than ‘The Smashing Machine,’ which scored him some plaudits and a few nominations, but didn’t hit hard at the box office.

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What’s the story of ‘Free Byrd’?

Dwayne Johnson in ‘Superpowered: The DC Story.’ Photograph by Courtesy of Max/Warner Bros.

The film will find Johnson as Las Vegas motorcycle stuntman who conceals his dementia diagnosis from everyone, including his mechanic brother, as he risks everything on one last jump.

Greg Kwedar, who last made ‘Train Dreams,’ will direct from a script he’s re-writing, one that originated with Jon Boyer. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, meanwhile, are attached to produce via their Artists Equity company/

‘Free Byrd’: Dwayne Johnson talks

Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Red Notice’ at Regal LA Live. Photo: Kevin Mazur.

Here’s what the artist also known as The Rock had to say about his new project:

“ ‘Free Byrd’ is a gift in many ways. Emblematic of life’s sacred beauty, as well as life’s harsh and callous reality. The subject matter of ‘Free Byrd’ has become deeply personal to Greg Kwedar and myself as we’ve started to unpack this fateful journey together. Artists Equity have been incredible filmmaking and artistic partners, who not only share Greg’s vision for the film, but who are all connected to our story in their own unique and personal ways. When the mind of a loved one begins to slip away, life sure takes on a whole new meaning.”