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Ryan Guzman is just coming off his film debut in Step Up Revolution, but there is plenty of hype over the 24-year-old on the frontend of his career. As he told ET before a recent workout at Crush Gym, he wants to be the next big actor.

"I'd love to be amongst the Johnny Depps and the Brad Pitts," Guzman said when asked about his future acting aspirations. "Hopefully, if I work hard, it can happen...Academy Awards, Oscars--let's do it."

VIDEO: Ryan Guzman 'Steps Up' to Surprise Fans at Theater

Although the fourth installment in the Step Up series was Guzman's first major film role, he was a mixed martial arts fighter and model prior to his big break as an actor. He revealed that he has big ambitions in the film industry now that he's made his way in.

"I'd love to do some directing," the Northern California native said. "I'm actually writing; I write a lot, so hopefully I can do the Jonah Hill route and write a script like '21 Jump Street' or something, and in five years get it made. I'd love to keep progressing in the [film] industry."

Just as his male predecessors in the Step Up film series, which began in 2006 with Channing Tatum and his future wife Jenna Dewan, Guzman was noted for his physical shape in the film. He divulged that he maintains his physique by doing interactive exercises rather than lifting weights.

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"It gets you fit without you really knowing it. That's what I love about it," he said of his workout regimen that includes punching drills. "I hate lifting weights. I'm very avid against that, so if I can do something that keeps my mind off...what I'm [actually] doing, I'll do it."

When asked to describe who he is, Guzman said that although he differs under various circumstances, one thing remains the same: his passion.

"I just like to have fun," he said. "I'm very passionate about anything I ever do."