Dwayne Johnson is stepping into one of the most emotionally charged roles of his career, playing a motorcycle stuntman battling dementia in an upcoming drama titled Free Byrd. The project pairs him once again with director Greg Kwedar, best known for the acclaimed prison drama Sing Sing, and arrives soon after Johnson's dramatic turn in The Smashing Machine last year.
A Vegas Daredevil Hiding A Devastating Secret
Johnson will play a Las Vegas based motorcyclist who is diagnosed with dementia but chooses to hide the condition from everyone around him, including his own brother, who works as his mechanic and stands by his side. Despite carrying this secret, he decides to pursue one final, dangerous jump. According to a logline shared for the film, the story examines and confronts the mind's vast mysteries and the beauty and power of asking for help before it's too late.
Backed By Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Studio
Free Byrd is being produced by Artists Equity, the production company founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The film's earlier script was written by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson, the duo behind The Peanut Butter Falcon. That draft is now being rewritten by Kwedar himself as the project moves closer to production.
Johnson Calls The Story Deeply Personal
Johnson spoke about the project while promoting his upcoming film, Disney's live-action Moana remake, describing Free Byrd as something deeply meaningful to him. "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," Johnson said.
Part of a Packed Upcoming Slate
Free Byrd joins a busy lineup of upcoming projects for Johnson. Alongside the live-action Moana remake, he is set to reunite with Benny Safdie, his The Smashing Machine director, on a project titled Lizard Music. He will also appear in Open World, described as the final film in the modern Jumanji trilogy. With Kwedar's acclaimed work on Sing Sing and Johnson's praised dramatic performance in The Smashing Machine, Free Byrd is shaping up to be one of the more closely watched entries on his upcoming slate.
