One of my favorite movie stars in the world is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I’d even say he’s my second favorite, just after Ryan Reynolds. There’s something so charismatic and fun about him, and although I don’t think he should be cast in Shakespeare’s Macbeth or be hailed as the finest actor without an Oscar, he brings so much energy and charm to every role he plays.
I’ve had the chance to meet him a couple of times, and he’s genuinely one of the nicest people you could encounter. His reputation as the hardest-working man in showbiz is legendary—his intense workout regimen, where he spends hours in the gym, is testament to his dedication to maintaining that iconic physique. However, there’s been some recent buzz about his work habits that seem to challenge that image.
A report by The Wrap discussed some production issues around his upcoming movie Red One, which is set to star Johnson and Chris Evans in a quirky holiday adventure involving the kidnapping of Santa Claus. Despite its fun premise, the production has faced significant challenges, with the budget reportedly ballooning to $250 million. Allegedly, much of this was due to Johnson’s tardiness on set, with claims that he showed up late—sometimes as much as eight hours late—which disrupted the filming schedule.
This revelation is surprising, especially since Johnson is known for his intense work ethic. In previous projects, such as his feud with Vin Diesel on The Fast and the Furious, the tension was reportedly due to Diesel’s lateness, not Johnson’s. So, to hear that The Rock might be guilty of this on other projects feels out of sync with his image.
Amazon, which is producing Red One, has denied the claims, stating that Johnson was a fantastic partner throughout the production. However, insiders suggest otherwise, citing his repeated tardiness as a cause of significant delays and increased costs. This problem isn’t unique to Red One, as sources from previous projects like HBO’s Ballers and the film Rampage also reported similar issues, with crew members left waiting for hours.
Hearing this about Johnson is disheartening. It tarnishes his polished reputation a bit, though many in the industry still insist he is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people to work with. I’m still a fan, but I hope he starts respecting the time and work of others more moving forward, especially when such high stakes are involved in the film industry.
Despite all this, I remain hopeful that Red One will be a fun holiday hit when it finally releases. Johnson’s personality is big enough to keep the movie exciting, and I’m sure audiences will still flock to see it.
