TAYLOR Swift’s master plan to conquer Hollywood includes helping beau Travis Kielce become the next version of The Rock, an industry insider has claimed.
The Shake It Off superstar, 34, is in the midst of major moves to expand her career into filmmaking once her hugely successful Eras Tour wraps.
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And the belief in Tinseltown is that she will be bringing NFL star boyfriend Travis, also 34, along for the ride.
The power couple are even said to be influenced in their strategy by Taylor’s longtime friend Ryan Reynolds.
A source in Hollywood told The U.S. Sun: “The big change in 2023 was the studios taking Taylor seriously as more than just a pop star, and the relationship with Travis is a big part of that.
“It’s not for me to say if it’s all for show but it has clearly been mutually beneficial for them, and it’s also not hard to see where Travis can slot into all of this once his football career is over.
“Put him in a Fast & Furious film and suddenly you’ve got the next The Rock or John Cena.
“Taylor clearly saw the appeal of Travis before anybody in Hollywood did, and he’s become incredibly famous in the wider world outside of football because of that.”
The source says that even if things don’t work out between the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor, he will still be in prime position to capitalize on the fame he has found by her side.
“Travis has become a household name, an influencer, and a fashion icon in just a few short months, completely apart from his football exploits,” the insider said.
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For her part, Taylor’s huge 2023 included the critical and commercial success of her concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which became the highest-grossing concert film of all time.
Taylor was praised for the movie’s unprecedented release strategy, which sidestepped studios and streamers for a deal directly with AMC Theatres.
She is also slated to make her feature film directorial debut once the Eras Tour ends in December.
Taylor is said to have written the original script for that project, which will be produced by Oscar-winning studio Searchlight Pictures.
‘RYAN REYNOLDS SCHOOL OF FILM’
There is no question that Hollywood was left deeply impressed by how Taylor was able to leverage her romance with Travis to supercharge the hype around her tour.
But The U.S. Sun’s source says that, behind the scenes, it is her pal Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, who is guiding her power moves.
The insider said: “Taylor’s been going to the Ryan Reynolds school of film for a few years now.
“She’s picked up more than a few tricks from the guy, especially when it comes to marketing and, when personally advantageous, lifting the curtain on her private life to tantalize and excite her fans.
“With the Eras Tour movie rollout, you actually saw what she learned from Ryan put into action on the ground, with explosive results. She also gives the guy a lot of credit, too.
“She’s not hiding at all that he’s part of her inner circle and an influence on her business.”
The source added: “I would not be surprised if Ryan or his wife Blake Lively star in Taylor’s film, because they are by far her closest advisors when it comes to filmmaking.”
TAYLOR’S ‘CALLING CARD’
As to what Taylor’s movie will be about, the insider believes the video she wrote and directed for her hit song Anti-Hero in 2022 likely contains some clues.
“That was the calling card that got Hollywood interested in actually backing a feature film by Taylor,” the source said.
“The expectation is that, whatever her movie turns out to be, it will use that video as a sort of jumping off point.”
The insider said that the movie is likely to be small scale and with a lower budget to keep profitability within reach.
“This whole movie deal is meant to establish Taylor as a filmmaking voice but nobody’s talking about it like it’s a $100 million blockbuster,” the source said.
“It’s going to follow up on the themes you saw in the Anti-Hero video – self-reliance, self-esteem, and self-love.
“Taylor doesn’t have to break the bank to make a film full of themes that have already been tested out on her fans and have been proven to resonate.”
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