After facing criticism for formulaic roles and experiencing several box office disappointments, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is poised for a career renaissance through unexpected collaborations with critically acclaimed directors and a strategic return to his most successful franchises. Industry analysts are calling this potential resurgence the most promising period in Johnson’s two-decade Hollywood career.
Despite the anticipated underperformance of his holiday action-comedy “Red One,” Johnson has assembled an impressive slate of upcoming projects that could dramatically alter his artistic reputation and commercial standing, according to Screen Rant.
Five Projects Redefining The Rock’s Career Trajectory
- The Smashing Machine (2025) – In what appears to be Johnson’s most dramatic transformation to date, the actor has become nearly unrecognizable as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut. According to Cinema Blend, the A24 biopic chronicles Kerr’s struggles with addiction and features Emily Blunt as his wife. Production recently wrapped in Vancouver, with Johnson’s dramatic physical transformation drawing significant attention.
- Untitled Scorsese/DiCaprio Crime Drama – Perhaps most surprising is Johnson’s collaboration with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on a Hawaii-based crime drama. Johnson and Blunt brought the project to Scorsese and DiCaprio, with all four serving as producers. Johnson described this development as “the most creatively inspiring time” of his career in a social media post, Screen Rant reports.
- Fast X: Part 2 (2026) – Following years of reported tension with franchise star Vin Diesel, Johnson made a surprise appearance in the post-credits scene of “Fast X.” He has since confirmed his return as Luke Hobbs for the franchise’s eleventh installment, scheduled for 2026 release. The reconciliation with Diesel was publicly acknowledged when the two actors greeted each other at the Golden Globes.
- Live-Action Moana (July 2026) – After the animated “Moana 2” recently crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, Johnson is set to physically embody demigod Maui in Disney’s live-action remake. The film, directed by Thomas Kail, will star 17-year-old Australian actress Catherine Laga’aia in the title role, with original voice actress Auliʻi Cravalho serving as executive producer.
- Jumanji 4 (December 2026) – Sony Pictures recently announced the fourth installment in the revitalized “Jumanji” franchise for December 2026. The previous entries starring Johnson as Dr. Smolder Bravestone were massive commercial successes, with “Welcome to the Jungle” and “The Next Level” earning $962.5 million and $801 million respectively.
JACK BLACK with a hilarious impersonation of Dwayne Johnson. pic.twitter.com/JaxxZXIFk5
— All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies) February 27, 2025
Career Reinvention Strategy
This diverse slate represents a calculated strategy to balance commercial ventures with artistic ambition, potentially addressing criticism that has followed Johnson throughout his career.
“Johnson has always been able to find success at the box office, but his upcoming movies with Safdie and Scorsese could lead to him earning a different kind of acclaim,” notes Screen Rant. “These two films may completely change how people view Johnson as an actor, especially if he gets nominated for some awards at major ceremonies.”
The actor’s career hit turbulence in recent years, with 2022’s “Black Adam” failing to meet expectations and effectively ending Johnson’s involvement in the DC cinematic universe. This followed the underperformance of “Jungle Cruise” in 2021, though that film’s challenges were partially attributed to pandemic-related disruptions.
Balancing Art and Commerce
Johnson’s approach appears to be a two-pronged strategy: leveraging established franchises like “Fast & Furious,” “Moana,” and “Jumanji” to maintain commercial relevance while pursuing partnerships with prestigious filmmakers to enhance his critical standing.
The actor has also announced development of a film based on Monster Jam, the popular monster truck exhibition, for Disney. During the 2023 D23 Expo, Johnson teased the project would be “a heck of a ride,” though specific details remain scarce.
Other projects in various stages of development include a “Jungle Cruise” sequel with Emily Blunt, “San Andreas 2,” and a continuation of John Carpenter’s cult classic “Big Trouble in Little China,” though updates on these have been limited.
As Johnson approaches the third decade of his Hollywood career, this carefully curated slate of projects could represent his most significant reinvention yet – potentially transforming him from reliable action star to respected dramatic actor while maintaining his blockbuster appeal.
