Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Dwayne Johnson to Star in Free Byrd for Artists Equity

Johnson will also produce a drama about a Las Vegas stuntman with dementia that Greg Kwedar will rewrite and direct, signaling a prestige-leaning project backed by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company.

Overview

  • The announcement, which was reported Tuesday, July 7, confirms Dwayne Johnson will star in and produce Free Byrd under Artists Equity’s banner.
  • The film centers on a Las Vegas motorcycle stuntman who hides a dementia diagnosis as he attempts one final jump, a premise provided in the producers’ logline.
  • Greg Kwedar is attached to rewrite the screenplay and direct after the script originated with Jon Boyer and saw an earlier draft by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson.
  • Producers include Gil Netter, Fifth Season, Seven Bucks Productions and Ethos, reflecting a mix of commercial clout and awards-focused creative backing.
  • Free Byrd is in development with no release date yet and the project positions Johnson toward more intimate, issue-driven roles while Artists Equity continues building a filmmaker-driven slate.