Dwayne Johnson has written success all over his career, be it his former legacy as a fan-favorite WWE wrestler or his later career as an a-lister movie star. Johnson as an action mega-star has created a mark in the industry.
When fans talk about Hollywood action stars, Johnson pops up at the top of the mix as he became one of the most sought-after action stars in the industry. However, his road to Hollywood was made easy by some of the prominent celebrities influencing the actor to forge himself as an action star and later build his $850 net worth.
Dwayne Johnson’s Big Breakthrough
Dwayne Johnson was already a popular figure in WWE and the superstar was known across the globe but getting into Hollywood was never easy. But with the help of his co-star, Brendan Fraser, Johnson made his debut playing the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns. The antagonistic role in the movie has proved that Johnson is a capable actor and caught the attention of filmmakers and fans. “The Mummy Returns, that was Brendan’s movie. He had to okay it,” Johnson once told MTV News.
“He had no idea. We had never met. We had never even spoken on the phone. And the word that I got from our director Stephen Sommers was, ‘Brendan loves this idea and is so happy you’re in the movie.”
Fraser was a big star enjoying the peak of his career at the time and for Johnson, it was a big deal to have Fraser’s support while landing on the role. He was new to the cinematic environment but the support from the stars in the movie never let him feel any doubt.
“I’d just come from WWE. I had no acting experience except in the WWE. I had never been on a movie set before ever and, all of a sudden, I’m in the middle of the Sahara Desert making The Mummy Returns. And I get that kind of nod of acceptance from the star of the movie, it really meant a lot to me. So many years later, I never forgot it,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s performance was remarkable in his debut movie as it opened the door for a prequel of the franchise, The Scorpion King solely based on his character.
Action Gods, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger Blessed Dwayne Johnson
Fraser’s role in shaping Johnson’s rising career in Hollywood is no less than remarkable but before that action Gods of the industry Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger blessed the wrestler-turned-actor to be an action star. The Rock is forever indebted to them.
“Sly and Arnold were my heroes growing up, and I will forever be grateful to them both for being so incredibly kind and supportive of me and my career when I first broke into Hollywood,” Johnson once said.
Johnson’s The Scorpion King co-star Kelly Hu once disclosed the Black Adam star’s journey to the industry. “Dwayne was so much fun to work with!” Hu told CBR once. “Talk about an evolution! The Scorpion King was his first film, he did a small little bit in The Mummy [Returns] to introduce the Scorpion King, but The Scorpion King was really his first film,” she added.
“And I remember telling him he was going to be the next big action star because there was really a void: Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t really working anymore, Sylvester Stallone wasn’t really doing movies anymore.”
Hu’s statement was reasonable. While Stallone and Schwarzenegger not working, The Expendables actors would definitely want Johnson to take their place as they are so conscious of their muscle as The Rock. The trio has not collaborated on any project together but when they do it will certainly be a spectacle.
Source: The Things.
