Dwayne Johnson Interview for Witch Mountain'
Look out Miley! Disney's other darling is back on the big screen. But it's not a Jonas Brother or one of those 'High School Musical' kids (although he is tight with Zac Efron) -- it's former pro wrestler the Rock, now known to moviegoers simply as Dwayne Johnson.
'Race to Witch Mountain' is Johnson's second Disney flick -- 2007's 'The Game Plan' earned an impressive $22M in its opening weekend -- but don't think it's all kid stuff and no action. This modern-day reimagining of the '70s classics pumps up the extraterrestrial storyline and uses Johnson's foreboding frame to accomplish the ultimate mission: saving the earth.
Johnson chatted with Moviefone about believing in aliens, his last on-screen smooch and which prominent high-ranking government official (ahem, President Obama!) he'd like to play him in a movie. -- By Maggie Furlong
Disney
1. The movie is really fun and action-packed -- what made you decide to take this role?
It was a lot of action! [Laughs] That's what we set out to do. We wanted to make that type of big action-adventure that felt like a ride, and also try to infuse the comedy. It was important to also make sure the elements that make up the brand at Disney were still prominent as well -- family, heart, fantasy, comedy.
Disney
2. Had you seen the original 'Witch Mountain' movies from the '70s? They scared the living daylights out of me ...
Right? They were terrifying! [Laughs] I had nightmares about Bette Davis for months -- in the sequel, remember that? They were very terrifying, and then when you watch them back now ... not so much. But yeah, I was a fan. So when Andy [Fickman, the director] came to me specifically with the idea -- Disney was trying to crack it in terms of what the ideal storyline would be that we could present to an audience today. They had tried many different versions, and finally asked Andy. Andy came up with a great take on it, and we sat down, and he said, "I have this idea for you to play this character." And I said "Great -- does it involve sports?" Because we just came off 'The Game Plan.' And he said, "No, it involves you saving the world." [Laughs] "Great -- what is it?"
Everett Collection
3. Any plans yet to make a sequel? Another 'Return From Witch Mountain' possibly?
I would love to. I had such a great time, not only partnering up with Disney again, but working with Andy, working with the actors. But I think the way the story was established and all the characters were established -- if done correctly, we could make a pretty cool sequel. Of course it all depends on how the audiences respond.
Disney
4. For all the sci-fi fans out there: Do you believe in aliens?
I do -- I do indeed. You know, I've always thought that there were other life forms out there. And inside my short attention span theater in my head, the one element that I was always drawn to was sci-fi, especially when I was younger. But yes, I do believe; I am a believer. And I give a lot of credit to Andy -- Andy is from Roswell, New Mexico, and he is so passionate about UFOs and the possibility of alien life, he provided us with hours of archival footage that we were able to study up on. It's really astonishing, the footage that's out there ... it's hard to contest.
Disney
5. Being so kid friendly, there's really no "action" between you and Carla Gugino -- how anxious are you to get Steve Carell bumped off the top spot as your last on-screen kiss?
[Laughs] Yes, he is up there as the last on-screen kiss that anyone's seen me do. However, he is bumped off by a kiss that nobody has seen me do [yet]. But I look forward to the day that Steve Carell is bumped off that plateau. I will say, however, that he does have one of the softest pair of lips that I've ever kissed. It's so important.
Warner Bros. / Disney
6. You've done mostly family movies the past few years -- have we seen the last of Dwayne Johnson, action star?
No, no, no -- I've got some great action movies that we're developing. There's one movie in particular called 'Faster' that I will eventually do with Phil Joanou, and I'm so excited about that. It has elements of great, old-fashioned action. It's a throwback to movies like 'Unforgiven' and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' I love action, and that was a space that I occupied for some time that not only served me, but that I was passionate about. I was just waiting for the right opportunity, the right material, to come along. Over the years now, I've passed on a considerable amount of action movies that ultimately went on and got made by other actors and really made a ton of money, but they just weren't right for me.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
7. Has there been an action role that you regret not taking?
Well, I regret not making 'Brokeback Mountain' ... [laughs] After my kiss with Steve Carell, I could really take it to the next level. No, honestly, none that I regret. But from 'Iron Man,' 'Batman' ... every great movie and every movie you respond to, it's always fun to think, "God, I would love to have been in that." There are a lot of great movies out there that resonate with me.
Paramount
8. What can you tell us about 'Jonny Quest'?
Right now we're just still redeveloping, if you will, what that movie will be. That's with myself and Andy [Fickman] and Zac Efron, but it's still in the developmental stage. Zac is my buddy -- I like Zac -- and I think that we would make a great pairing.
Getty Images / WireImage
9. And what about 'Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam'? Director Peter Segal has described it as 'Big' meets 'Batman' -- think it can actually live up to that?
[Laughs] Thanks Pete -- way to put us out there! I love the idea of working with Pete again. We've become really good friends. I'm not too sure where it's at right now, to be honest with you. There was a considerable amount of creative differences between the script that came in and the tone and the direction that the studio wanted to take the movie. So I believe we went back to square one, but Pete's got great ideas, and I'm pumped to work with him again.
Everett Collection / Warner Bros.
Reader Comments (219)
COLTON at 8:05PM on Mar 10th 2009
rock.i respected you .you were at the top pf your career and you blew it to go drive a stupid taxi and act with kids.man im sorry to sat it but man"YOU'VE GONE SOFT".
Randy at 8:06PM on Mar 10th 2009
He will have to scrawny down to play Obama, or Obama is going to have to hit a gym with Weights.
tessa at 8:06PM on Mar 10th 2009
omgggg nooo
leesanta at 8:08PM on Mar 10th 2009
omg
jacob at 8:16PM on Mar 10th 2009
the reason Dwayne Johnson changed from the rock is cause he didn`t like to be beaten by Stone Cold!
yovanny de leon at 8:20PM on Mar 10th 2009
rock you are hot
pastv7 at 8:23PM on Mar 10th 2009
Dwayne johson is the rock were rock is cook off wwe wresting if he want play on movie that fine people want the rock to come back to wwe iam not quite sure if he has chgane his mind by come back wwe iam really sure if he want stay movie same more likey john wayne long ago if he want stay movie that is up to rock wont cooking to wwe if he return wait and see
Deadmanfreak62 at 8:24PM on Mar 10th 2009
The Rock is a sell-out. It's cool that he's an actor now, but he could at least show some support to the people that made him who he is. The WWE and the WWE fans. Why does he need to erase his history just to be an actor?
tojo at 8:30PM on Mar 10th 2009
Just another no talent, exploited,commen everyday "Mullato" on steroids.
blake zuniga at 9:07PM on Mar 11th 2009
i think it was a bad idea
dustinlooney64 at 8:31PM on Mar 10th 2009
wwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttt???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the rock is coming back soon?or not if not im going to be upset im his bigest fan in virginia
PAPI at 8:33PM on Mar 10th 2009
PASTV7...... GRAB A WEBSTER DICTIONARY BEFORE YOU POST ANYTHING
escott_459 at 8:35PM on Mar 10th 2009
haha number 3's comment is stupied. prob just another skinny punk who thinks everybody who is bigger than him is on steriod. its called the gym pal, try it.
Dish15204 at 8:58PM on Mar 10th 2009
Anyone who wants to know why Mr. Johnson made the switch to acting shouls see the movie "The Wrestler". if Mr. Johnson continued to "wrasle", he would be like the Mickey Rouke chactor in the movie. Pro wresleing, to me is a form of acting.
Jennybean at 8:38PM on Mar 10th 2009
I can honestly say I am the biggest Dwayne Johnson fan of all time. I have been following his career for many years and I just adore him. He is an amazing actor and would give my right arm to meet him or even just hear from him. If you watch any of his interviews you can see just how funny and amazing he really is. I am so happy that he is becoming so popular because now I get to see even more of him! I will always be the first in line at the movie theater to see his movies no matter what he does! My email addy is Jen9292@ AOL.COM if anyone wants to start a fan web site with me!
ping10 at 8:39PM on Mar 10th 2009
Since Vince owns the WWE he also owns the name "the Rock". Everytime Dwane used the Rock in his name Vince got a royality fee. He is not selling out hes just cutting out Vince from getting paid for money he dosent deserve.
mark thompson at 8:37PM on Mar 10th 2009
Mr. Johnson is doing what most wrestlers should have done in the past; parlay his wrestling fame into a safer, more lucrative career. I am sure more wrestlers would do the same, if they were as charismatic, and as marketable as Mr. Johnson. To criticize a man for capitalizing on his natural talents is just plain ludicrous. Mr. Rock's road to fame was not easy. His football career was cut short, due to injury. He was even cut by the Canadian Football League. How horrible was that??!!!! His father, Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather, Petra Maivia, were outstanding wrestlers. I do not claim to know very much about either of them, but I do know that Rocky Johnson was also very charismatic, which explains from where Mr. Johnson gets this trait.
DaddyRich at 8:38PM on Mar 10th 2009
Truth be told the WEE owns the name ''the Rock'' that's why he can't use it anymore!!!
Manny Lopez at 8:41PM on Mar 10th 2009
Hmmm...if I had a bunch of illiterate, hateful fanatics such as you people, I too would want to "erase" my history, lol. As far as the Mulatto comment...learn to spell it correctly (moron). If you weren't so freaking ignorant you would know that he is half black, half Samoan; this does not qualify him as a Mulatto. Read up on your facts before you attack people that whether talented or not, still have more MONEY than you'll ever see...now, isn't that what it's all about?
Dolly Kaluahinenui at 10:38AM on Mar 12th 2009
Dwayne Johnson can do what ever he dam well pleases to do. He has all the right to change his stage name back to his rightful birth name if he chooses to. He is an outstanding actor who his very talented. He has earned the utmost respect from the public and from the entertainment industry. We all know that he was a wrestler and we'll never forget his being known as the Rock. But, we live in a democracy society and can choose to change careers if we choose to, as well as our names. He is in a new chapter in his life and has become a Hell of an Actor. He's a good actor. And, his parents must be extremely proud of him for finally using his Birth Name: DWAYNE JOHNSON!! Hey Dwayne, .....Hold your head high and aim for the stars!