20 Reasons why Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson of 'Baywatch' is the biggest movie star in the world
He made more money than any other movie star last year (Close to $70 million), he's got a series on HBO, he hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live, he stars this week in a feature film remake of Baywatch and if the next few years go according to plan, this will be Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's slow period.
He's now attached to more than 20 - TWENTY - film projects, so get ready for a veritable avalanche of "The Rock."
2) "Doc Savage" - Despite Shane Black being attached, this project has a lot of promise, with Johnson playing the FIRST comic book superhero. Savage, who was physically and mentally trained from birth to be a perfect physical specimen with an incredible intellect, is unique enough to stand out among all the big-budget and superhero fare hitting cineplexes - and is scheduled to start shooting sometime this year.
3, 4, 5) Fast and The Furious - One of the most successful franchises on the planet has three installments from now through 2021 guaranteed - and it would be a shock if Universal made that commitment without Johnson agreeing to all three.
6) Journey 3: From The Earth To The Moon - This overlooked franchise has been quite successful. With Brad Peyton, who directed the previous film, as well as the smash "Rock" vehicle, San Andreas, this looks to be another blockbuster. Scheduled to hit theaters June 16, 2017.
7) Jumanji - The remake of the classic board-game movie is in good hands with "The Rock," his Central Intelligence costar Kevin Hart and Jack Black this looks to be a fun, wild ride. Due to hit screens on July 28, 2017.
8) Rampage - Hoping to capitalize on 1980s nostalgia, Johnson and Peyton - there's that combo again - look to make one of Hollywood's biggest rarities - a successful video game adaptation! For those under 30, the "Rampage" video game is about King Kong-like monsters who rampage through cities, with armed forces trying to stop them. The film has a release date of April 20, 2018.
9) San Andreas 2 - After 2015's San Andreas raked in $155 million domestically and $473 million globally, it should be of little surprise that a sequel was immediately greenlit. Peyton - there he is again! - is back on board, as is most of the supporting cast, including Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario and Paul Giamatti - as the wife, daughter and ignored-until-too-late seismologist, respectively. No release date is set, though 2018 or 2019 look likely.
10) "Unnamed Buddy Action Comedy'" - This film does not have a title or release date yet, but Johnson is attached, as are his frequent producer, Beau Flynn; director Will Gluck (Annie) and writer Dave Callaham (The Expendables). Deadline.com has described the film as Johnson's "throwback to those mismatched buddy action comedies like Lethal Weapon, Midnight Run and 48 Hours. With this much talent attached, the film seems like a done deal.
11) Big Trouble in Little China - Johnson has been tapped to star in and produce this remake of the 1986 Kurt Russell classic. With 20th Century Fox giving this the green light, and two established writers also attached - Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Thor, X-Men: First Class), this looks like a certainty as well, even without a director attached.
12) "Die Hard In China" - No. That's not the actual title and the film will have nothing to do with the Bruce Willis franchise. However, the concept is similar : "The Rock" versus insurmountable odds, with a Chinese backdrop. Rawson Marshall Thurber, who directed last year's Johnson/Kevin Hart hit Central Intelligence, will both helm and write this film - which has been greenlit by Universal and will likely get an actual title soon.
13) Alpha Squad Seven - With DreamWorks winning a heavy bidding war for this property - a sci-fi action comedy set in space - there is almost no question about IF this film will be made, but WHEN. With Beau Flynn - him again! - attached as producer and writers Nick Palmer and Jeremiah Friedman (Dockweiler, the upcoming The Karate Kid 2) attached, this looks promising.
14) "The Janson Directive" - Paul Janson may be author Robert Ludlum's greatest creation - which, considering he also created Jason Bourne, is saying something. A smart, wisecracking, deadly ex-Navy SEAL, Janson could become a character to rival Bourne himself and Johnson is a perfect fit.
15) "Jungle Cruise" - Never let it be said there is a ride at one of their theme parks that Disney doesn't want to turn into a movie! With Johnson attached - and the good relationship the studio and he have post-Moana - Disney is looking to turn this into their next Pirates of the Caribbean.
16) "Son of Shaolin" - Described as a "contemporary kung-fu story", this adaptation of the graphic novel has "The Rock" attached as producer. The iffiest entry on the list.
17) Shazam! - With Brad Peyton - him again! - in talks to direct the "Shazam!" film, is there any doubt that "The Rock"'s Black Adam will be in this film as well?
18) G.I.Joe 3 - This is such a done deal that the only reason it hasn't gone forward is because of Johnson's crammed schedule. But the threequel should hit in 2018 or 2019.
19) The Rundown 2 - This sequel to the 2003 action comedy, in which "The Rock" plays a bounty hunter - has stalled a bit. However, director Peter Berg, who has been busy working with Mark Wahlberg on Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day may be in the mood to do something lighter. Talking to collider.com in 2013, Berg said, " I really want to do it. I've talked to Dwayne. I have an actor in mind that I can't say that I want to work with Dwayne on it, and we want to do it."
20) The Wolf Man - In an attempt to launch a "Monsters Universe," Universal has decided to go the A-list route with Tom Cruise in a remake of The Mummy, and pursuing Angelina Jolie as Bride of Frankenstein - and Johnson as The Wolf Man.
21) Deadline.com recently reported that Universal is prepping a "Fast and Furious spinoff for Johnson and Jason Statham. Because . . . why not. The guy's got time on his hands.