2022 wasn’t the greatest year for Dwayne Johnson’s film career. The star played Black Adam in the highly anticipated origin story of DC’s popular superhero but failed to impress the audiences with his performance. The film did not find favor with critics too and had a disappointing run at the box office.
The outcome though did not affect Johnson’s mammoth financial empire which is predicted to be worth around 800 million dollars. The Jumanji 2 actor’s appearances in many blockbuster films over the years ensured that he topped the Forbes list of the highest-paid celebrities in 2022. Before Dwayne Johnson become the name we know today, the star made his acting debut in a forgotten role that was a stepping stone to his creative and monetary superstardom.
Star Trek Introduced Dwayne Johnson to the World
Dwayne Johnson’s movie career took off with his presence in the 2nd installment of the cult fantasy-adventure series, The Mummy Returns. The former WWE star featured in a prominent role that catapulted him to fame from where there was no looking back. But a year before this film, Johnson made his acting debut in another iconic television franchise, Star Trek: Voyager which ran for a massive 7 seasons.
The Fast and The Furious star played the role of a hulking combatant in the melee bloodsport Tsunkatse in the 15th episode of the 6th season. The actor’s physical prowess and muscularity in the show eventually went on to become his biggest asset in various Hollywood action blockbusters and the groundwork started with Star Trek. With Johnson facing a dip in his career success rate, writer James Withbrook of Gizmodo reflected on the actor’s current status.
“You could even say that Johnson has spent almost two and a half decade long acting career chasing the same high as “Tsunkatse,” but finds himself unable replicate the joy of the first time he could turn the Rock into a trans-medium performance”.
The writer also spoke about the similarities between Johnson’s Star Trek character Pendari Champion and the actor’s WWE image and stated that the lack of dialogue, the costumes, and the manner of combat echoed the star’s performances inside the wrestling arena.
Dwayne Johnson Goes Back To His Forte For Future Projects
Dwayne Johnson has made a name in Hollywood as one of the biggest stars in the industry. With action being his strong suit, The Mummy Returns actor is looking to get back to his comfort zone after his unexpected failure as a DC superhero in Black Adam.
Among the films that Johnson has lined up, Jumanji 4 is reportedly in the works. The Rock will also be seen in Red One which is touted to be an action comedy featuring a round-up of big Marvel and DC stars like Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and Oscar winner J.K Simmons. The film is expected to release sometime in 2023.
Source: Gizmodo
