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Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson as legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, delivered a knockout punch Monday at the Venice Film Festival.

The A24 film had its world premiere Monday night inside Sala Grande and the audience went wild, responding with a 15-minute standing ovation. It proved to be a special night for Johnson as Kerr also made the trek to Venice for the showing where they were joined by co-star Emily Blunt. Amid cheers of “DJ,” “Benny” and “Emily,” the audience went wild as all four — Johnson, Blunt, Safdie and Kerr — were all teary-eyed throughout the emotional scene. Even Seth Rogen, a surprise guest, was cheering and hollering while holding a camera throughout the ovation and snapping photos the entire time.

A24’s The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson as UFC champ Mark Kerr delivers Tko at Venice Film Festival world premiere with 15-minute standing ovation.

Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Benny Safdie unveiled the latter’s first solo directorial feature, The Smashing Machine, on Monday at the Venice Film Festival. The story of legendary Mma fighter Mark Kerr (also in attendance) received a 15 1/12-minute ovation after its world premiere screening.

Johnson, in Venice for the first time, plays Kerr in the A24 wrestling drama that centers on an icon from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC as he struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship at the peak of his career. Blunt plays Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk rounding out the cast.

There was emotion all around when the lights came up tonight, as Johnson, Blunt, Safdie and Kerr shared warm embraces.

The audience was effusive in its applause and woot woots — and so were some famous guests, including Seth Rogen who has been snapping photos of the team all day,...

The Venice Film Festival hosted the world premiere of The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie’s first solo directorial film. The biopic stars Dwayne Johnson as the legendary mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr, with Emily Blunt co-starring as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples.

Attending the premiere were members of the film’s ensemble, including Mark Kerr, Charlie Kaufman, Eva H.D., Josef Akiki, Emily McCann Lesser, Halsey, Avan Jogia, Isabelle Deluce, and more.

Related: Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt On Shooting Venice Title ‘The Smashing Machine’ With Benny Safdie: “The Guardrails Came Off For Us Every Day”

The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports drama about the life of former mixed martial arts (Mma) fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson stars as Kerr, a two-time UFC and Pride Grand Prix tournament winner known as “The Smashing Machine” for his powerful, wrestling-based fighting style.

Beyond the ring, the film offers a raw look at a...

“It’s my first time in Venice,” Dwayne Johnson told the audience this morning as gingerly he entered the room for the official presser for his competition title The Smashing Machine.

The veteran WWE fighter turned actor was joined at the presser by his co-star, Emily Blunt, and director Benny Safdie. The film, which debuts this evening in Venice, marks Safdie’s first outing as a solo director.

The film follows fighter Mark 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.

On why he decided to tackle mixed martial arts with a story set in the 1990s, Safdie told the crowd in Venice: “At that time period, there was something so...

New details have come out about Henry Cavill’s exit as Superman, and it turns out the situation was messier than most people thought.

Cavill hadn’t been in any DC movies since 2017’s Justice League until he showed up briefly in 2022’s Black Adam. That cameo was supposed to kick off a fresh chapter for his Superman in the Dceu.

But things quickly changed. Even though Cavill’s return was announced and he said he was coming back for more, new DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran had different plans. When Henry Cavill was announcing his return, Gunn and Safran already had a deal with David Zaslav signed.

James Gunn spoke about all this on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He said he already had his Superman movie planned before Cavill’s return was announced. Gunn was shocked that Cavill’s comeback was made public the same...

Henry Cavill’s Superman exit turned out to be much messier than fans thought. After not appearing in any DC movie since 2017’s Justice League, Cavill made a surprise return as Superman in 2022’s Black Adam.

That moment felt like a big comeback, especially after Cavill himself announced he was returning for more movies. But soon after, things changed completely.

Not long after Cavill’s big return, James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the new heads of DC Studios. At that point, Gunn already had his own Superman project planned. He chose David Corenswet as the new Superman, and his version of the character has recently been introduced to strong praise from both critics and fans.

On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn explained how Cavill’s situation happened behind the scenes. Gunn said that he and Safran were still finalizing their deal to take over DC Studios...

DC fans have hilariously thanked former “Black Adam” actor Dwayne Johnson for James Gunn’s “Superman” success, which opened nationally in theaters Friday and raked in the year’s best box office preview total with $22.5 million.

As TheWrap previously reported, in 2022 Johnson and Seven Bucks co-founder Dany Garcia met with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on not only inserting Superman back into “Black Adam,” but according to four insiders with knowledge of the meeting, positioning Seven Bucks to run DC and replace then-chief Walter Hamada.

Garcia wasn’t hired to run the unit, and Johnson and Seven Bucks were evicted from DC shortly after “Black Adam” tanked and Zaslav hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to run the division.

Now that “Superman” appears to be having liftoff at the box office — and boasts a positive 82% fresh rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes — DC diehards had a field day on...

Warner Bros. has been trying for years to make its DC Comics movies a big hit, but nothing has really worked so far. For decades, different executives promised to make DC’s superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman just as popular as Marvel’s stars.

But because of behind-the-scenes problems and creative clashes, DC never quite reached that level of success.

Now, the studio is trying again with a fresh start. The new Superman movie coming out this week is the centerpiece of their plan to bring DC back to life. Warner Bros. hopes this film will earn over $500 million worldwide.

While that’s less than Marvel’s biggest hits, it would still count as a strong success for DC. The movie is also meant to kick off a new DC movie universe. After Superman, there are plans for a Supergirl spin-off, a Green Lantern TV show, and more Batman movies.

Warner Bros. has been trying for years to make its DC Comics movies a huge success, but nothing has really worked out. Despite many promises from different executives, DC heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have never quite reached the same level of popularity as Marvel’s Spider-Man or Captain America.

Now, the studio is trying again with a fresh plan. This week, a new Superman movie will hit theaters, kicking off what the studio hopes will be a whole new DC movie universe. Along with the Superman reboot, there are plans for a Supergirl spin-off, a Green Lantern TV show, and several new Batman movies.

The pressure is on for Warner Bros. Discovery, the company that owns DC. CEO David Zaslav has said many times that fixing DC is one of the biggest opportunities for the company. But so far, the company’s stock price hasn’t done...

The Nacelle Company will make a new animated series based on the cult ’90s show “Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa.” The news comes in advance of San Diego Comic-Con 2025 and is part of the company’s plans to create a shared universe of reimagined toy and animation hits, dubbed the NacelleVerse.

First introduced in 1991 by “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” artist Ryan Brown, “C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa” inspired a toy line, a Saturday morning cartoon on ABC, comic books, and an arcade game. Along with new toys and a new comic, The Nacelle Company is developing a fresh series that will premiere in 2027. This upcoming series shares a connected universe and timeline with two other Nacelle animated reboots: “RoboForce,” executive produced by Brian Volk-Weiss, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Seven Bucks Productions; and “Biker Mice From Mars,” executive produced by Volk-Weiss, Ryan Reynolds, and Maximum Effort.

The...

Dwayne Johnson may be playing Mark Kerr in A24’s upcoming biopic “The Smashing Machine,” but now the actor is even taking an active part in the Mma legend’s legacy.

That’s because The Rock was on hand to help induct Kerr into the UFC Hall of Fame on Thursday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas alongside co-star Emily Blunt. Kerr is now the 21st member of the sport’s Pioneer Era Wing.

Johnson stars as the two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament champion in Benny Safdie’s sports drama, which is set to premiere this October. Meanwhile, Blunt portrays Kerr’s then-girlfriend Dawn Staples, with a cast that also includes Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk.

Director Safdie also wrote, produced and edited the film. Additional producers include Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Eli Bush and David Koplan.

A24 has described the film as “a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr,...

Darren Aronofsky is in early talks to direct Dwayne Johnson in “Breakthrough” at A24.

Should the deal close, it would the second project Aronofsky would do at the indie label, following 2022’s “The Whale,” which garnered a Best Actor Academy Award win for Brendan Fraser.

According to the project’s logline: “In turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, an alienated young man comes under the influence of a motivational guru, whose intoxicating charm masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness.” Zeke Goodman wrote the script

Johnson is playing a supporting role in the film. He will next be seen in “The Smashing Machine,” also at A24 which will be in theaters on Oct. 3.

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.

Aronofsky’s next project is Sony’s “Caught Stealing,...

One of our favorite Darren Aronofsky films is “The Wrestler,” and he may be teaming up with a former wrestler, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Aronofsky is in early conversations to direct “Breakthrough,” a drama that will co-star Dwayne Johnson and is set up at A24, a source told IndieWire.

“Breakthrough,” written by Zeke Goodman, would co-star Johnson in a film set at the turn-of-the-millennium Southern California about 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 already attached to the project in the supporting role as the motivational guru, and the film would still be searching for its young lead.

A24 did not comment.

A24 will produce and finance “Breakthrough,” and Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions will also produce the film. Stacey Sher’s Penny Productions will also produce.

Is Dwayne Johnson’s star about to burn even brighter after tag-teaming the film industry alongside A24 for multiple high-profile projects? Johnson is already getting in the ring for Benny Safdie’s upcoming biographical sports drama, The Smashing Machine, which focuses on the life and times of former Mma pioneer Mark Kerr. Now, Darren Aronofsky is in early talks to direct Johnson in Breakthrough, a disturbing thriller starring the bald box office behemoth as a motivational guru.

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,...

Darren Aronofsky is looking to reteam with his The Whale studio A24, and is talks to direct Dwayne Johnson in the feature Breakthrough, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The logline for the film reads: “In turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, an alienated young man comes under the influence of a motivational guru, whose intoxicating charm masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness.” Johnson will be playing a supporting role in the film.

A24 will produce and finance actor-writer Zeke Goodman.

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

This will be the second A24 project for Johnson, who stars in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, which is due out this October. Johnson, who is known for family-friendly fare like Jungle Cruise and Red One,...

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.

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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...