The Rock To Star In Action Drama Free Byrd As Stuntman With Dementia

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is set to both star in and produce a new action drama, Free Byrd, from director Greg Kwedar. Variety reports that Johnson has signed on to star in the film, which was written by Jon Boyer. Kwedar, known for his work on the Oscar-nominated films Sing Sing and Train Dreams, will direct and rewrite the script.

The film stars Johnson as a Las Vegas motorcycle stuntman who is hiding his dementia diagnosis from everyone including his mechanic brother as he risks everything on one last jump.

“Free Byrd is a gift in many ways,” said Johnson. “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 is about to arrive in theaters with the live-action Moana film, which opens this weekend and is expected to easily claim the #1 spot. His most recent film was The Smashing Machine, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination and Oscar buzz, though he wasn’t ultimately nominated for the latter.

The film will be produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, with Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side) producing alongside Fifth Season, Johnson via his Seven Bucks Productions banner, and Kwedar and Clint Bentley for Ethos.