Dwayne Johnson is finally going back to where it all started. The 44-year old is set to star in a new wrestling comedy drama written, produced and directed by Stephen Merchant. He will be working alongside Florence Pugh who will be playing the role of current WWE star Paige.
This will be Merchant's directorial debut, as he transitions from playing the Marvel villain Caliban for the upcoming blockbuster Logan. The title Fighting with my Family is inspired by the 24-year English wrestler from Norwich (Paige) while Johnson will double his duties as an actor and producer for the movie.
Rags To Riches Story Intrigued Johnson
Dunkirk star Jack Lowden will play Paige's brother in the picture. As the duo portrays the coming of age story of the English performer who went from a nobody to a global superstar. Starting production later in February across London and Los Angeles, the movie has been some 5 years in the making. At least, according to reports that linked Johnson to the story back in 2012.
Talking about the project, Johnson explained that it had him hooked from the very beginning. "Not only was I intrigued by this loving and wild family, but I also felt it’s the kind of narrative that would make an amazing movie," Johnson remarked.
The King Is Dead - Long Live The King
Attending the 2017 DGA Awards to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in Hollywood on the red carpet, David Hasselhoff opened up about Johnson reprising his role for Baywatch. Departing the television series that dominated on cable in the 1990s, the 64-year old explained that he is comfortable handing the reigns over to The Rock.
"It's just an honor," started Hasselhoff, "to be in the same room as all these people and also to see Ridley Scott. I was out doing Baywatch and it was kind of a bittersweet thing when you go on the set and see Mitch Buchannon and I was like 'I'm Mitch Buchannon' but we had a big laugh about it and I said 'You know what, you were king of the block back in 1989 now The Rock is.' It's better to have a picture with the king of the block, even though you're not the king of the block anymore. He was really kind. He brought his mom in, he was from Hawaii, I lived in Hawaii, she was all over me in a nice way. Zac (Efron) was cool. I said, 'The secret of Baywatch was just be cool. Be cool, have fun, save lives.'"
Source: The Guardian, E, IGN
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