Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a name synonymous with both WWE stardom and box-office magnetism, finds himself in the center of a Hollywood hurricane, as a new report from The Wrap paints a picture of a superstar whose punctuality—or lack thereof—might be costing more than just time. Touted as a blockbuster behemoth, Johnson is now embroiled in a narrative that would fit right into the plot twists of a wrestling saga, echoing the complexities of Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon.”
The report alleges staggering claims of Johnson arriving “an average of seven to eight hours late” on the set of his upcoming Christmas movie “Red One.” These delays purportedly inflated the film’s budget by a whopping $50 million, a figure that has left industry insiders buzzing. An anonymous source candidly remarked, “Dwayne truly doesn’t give a f**k,” spotlighting a seeming disregard for the time-sensitive nature of film production.
Yet, as with any story worth its salt in Hollywood, there’s another side to this coin. Some insiders close to Johnson and his production company, Seven Bucks, suggest these reports are greatly exaggerated, claiming the superstar was rarely more than an hour late. Further complicating matters, Amazon MGM, the studio behind “Red One,” maintains that the budget remains within its original $250 million projection.
Johnson’s history of alleged tardiness isn’t confined to just “Red One.” Past productions like “Ballers,” “Rampage,” and “Red Notice” also share tales of time mismanagement, with one co-star from “Rampage” reportedly keeping a log of Johnson’s actual time on set. Moreover, the friction reportedly extended to his co-star Ryan Reynolds during “Red Notice,” with both actors allegedly not speaking for years until recently reconciling.
Despite these dramatic accounts, Netflix and other studios continue to publicize Johnson as “the consummate professional,” adding layers of contradiction to the unfolding drama. Meanwhile, accusations of breaking COVID-19 protocols and using film crews for personal projects like the XFL have further stirred the pot.
Perhaps the most peculiar revelation involves Johnson’s unorthodox method of saving time by allegedly urinating in empty water bottles, a habit he’s acknowledged in past interviews. Amid these swirling controversies, Johnson has also faced criticism over alleged nepotism, particularly concerning his ex-brother-in-law, Hiram Garcia, President of Production at Seven Bucks.
As Johnson toggles between the worlds of wrestling and Hollywood filmmaking, his future projects, including “The Smashing Machine,” loom on the horizon with a tighter budget and higher stakes. With his recent return to WWE and looming matches against iconic figures like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, Johnson’s dual career trajectory continues to captivate and confound fans and critics alike.
While the truth behind these reports might be as multifaceted as a Kurosawa epic, one thing is clear: Dwayne Johnson remains a pivotal figure in both the squared circle and the silver screen, his every move watched by millions, his every delay dissected by an industry that hangs on his considerable influence.