Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson revisits breakthrough Hollywood role as he signs on to produce Scorpion King reboot for Universal
He launched his Hollywood career with the role of Scorpion King in 2001’s blockbuster The Mummy Returns.
And in 2002, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson became a bona fide big screen star as the lead in the spin-off The Scorpion King.
Now, the former wrestling superstar is set to reboot the character in a new movie for Universal which he is producing through his Seven Bucks Productions, Deadline.com reported Tuesday.
Old is new: He launched his Hollywood career with the role of Scorpion King in 2001’s The Mummy Returns and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is producing a new film about the character
Straight Outta Compton scribe Jonathan Herman has been tapped to develop a screenplay for the project.
Given his already heavy roster, The Rock is likely going to pass the mantle to a different actor to play the ancient Egyptian action hero, Deadline said.
However, he could have a role in the movie, especially as it’s a project that revives his breakthrough character albeit in a more modern setting.
Lift off: The former wrestling superstar landed his first lead as the ancient Egyptian in the 2002 spin-off The Scorpion King and hasn’t looked back since
He’s back: The Rock said in a statement: ‘The Scorpion King was my very first role ever on the silver screen and I’m honored and excited to reimagine and deliver this cool mythology to a whole new generation’
In charge: Johnson, 48, is making the movie for Universal through his Seven Bucks Productions and a new actor will take on the mantle of the action hero in a more modern setting
In a statement, Johnson, 48, shared: ‘The Scorpion King was my very first role ever on the silver screen and I’m honored and excited to reimagine and deliver this cool mythology to a whole new generation.’
He went on: ‘I wouldn’t have had the career I’m lucky enough to have had it not been for The Scorpion King and I’m thrilled that we at Seven Bucks Productions can help create those same opportunities for other hardworking actors today.’
The Rock concluded: ‘I believe Jonathan Herman will put in the hard work to deliver a fantastic script for our global audience.’
Herman most recently completed a rewrite for Universal’s F9 Fast & Furious film and is also working on the studio’s new Scarface movie.
Busy star: Johnson has just wrapped filming on the Netflix movie Red Notice with Ryan Reynolds, pictured on set and has a slew of projects lined up to produce and star in
Johnson has just wrapped filming on the Netflix movie Red Notice with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
He is attached to star in the Robert Zemeckis historical drama The King, about the monarch King Kamehameha who united the Hawaiian islands; the Shazam! spin-off Black Adam; and the sequel San Andreas 2.
He’s also developed a small screen comedy Young Rock based on his childhood which is currently filming in Australia.
The Rock runs his production company with his ex-wife and manager Dany Garcia.