There’s no rest for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; none at all! The man just works… and works… and works. Big screen, small screen, web series, social media phenom (he’s very active on his various social media accounts), etc; and all at the same time! At some point, he has to take some kind of a break, right? Right? As the saying goes, “can’t stop; won’t stop!”
Mr. Johnson has sold a comedy project to Fox which will be based on his early years as a wrestler, before he became a film and TV superstar. It will be set behind-the-scenes of a professional wrestling outfit, and will follow the odd couple relationship between a charismatic young fighter (like the The Rock), and an awkward comedy writer new to the world of wrestling (a character that will be based on former WWE head writer Brian Gerwitz).
The network has given a pilot commitment to the potential series, which hails from Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions shingle, and Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions. Andrew Gurland (creator of FX’s “Married”) will write the script.
“This November will mark the 20th anniversary of my professional wrestling debut,” said Johnson. “I was 24 years old, putting in the hard work, making $40 bucks per match and had no clue of the long journey that lay ahead of me with characters and backstage stories so colorful you’d think there’s no way that can be true. The entertaining show that goes on in front of the crowd pales in comparison to the insanely entertaining show that goes on backstage. Brian and myself can’t wait to tell our stories.”
I’m certainly intrigued. In a TV landscape that’s full of legal, medical and romantic relationship dramas of various types, a series peek “outside-the-ring” of a pro wrestling company reads different and fresh!
The potential series is just one of about a dozen projects (for film, TV and the web) that Johnson currently has on his slate, most of them scheduled to debut in the next year or two; and much of the work he’s done has been successful (in some case immensely-so) for those backing them.
