Dwayne Johnson set to star in Martin Scorsese-directed crime thriller

Dwayne Johnson is stepping into the world of crime and power in an upcoming and untitled  thriller set in Hawaii and directed by Martin Scorsese. The film, backed by 20th Century Studios, also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.

Described as a Hawaiian Goodfellas meets The Departed, the film takes inspiration from the rise and fall of Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa, the ruthless mastermind behind The Company, Hawaii’s most dominant organized crime syndicate in the 1970s. Pulawa’s empire thrived on underground gambling, human trafficking, and corruption within labor unions, making him one of the most feared figures in the islands’ history. But power came at a price—after years of evading the law, he was eventually charged with two counts of murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison for tax evasion in 1973, and by 1975, he was permanently banned from Nevada’s casinos.

The film will follow a powerful crime boss as he builds an empire in paradise, waging a violent battle against outside forces looking to exploit the islands for profit. As tensions rise and betrayals mount, he faces an all-out war to maintain his grip on power while fighting to protect the only home he’s ever known.

Johnson, who has deep ties to Hawaii, isn’t just leading the film—he’s also co-authoring a book on the subject with journalist Nick Bilton, who penned the screenplay. The project originated with Blunt, who brought the concept to Johnson