Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is everywhere now and for good reason. People adore him. As the saying goes, ladies love him and men want to be him. The Rock has a recurring role in multiple franchises. Off the top of my head, there’s Fast and Furious, G.I. Joe, and Journey 2. He’ll soon play a DC villain in a Shazam movie. Dude has a very lucrative and enduring career, and he usually seems very humble and appreciative.
The world is not enough for The Rock. I remember hearing (many years ago) that he was gunning for a villainous role in a James Bond movie. It never happened, possibly because of scheduling conflicts. What I didn’t know is that The Rock’s grandfather (Peter Maivia) once played a Bond villain. Peter starred in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. It makes sense that The Rock would want to follow in his grandpa’s hallowed footsteps. This week’s issue of Star says The Rock almost got his 007 villain role. He’s reportedly “crushed over [the] snub.” Why did he get passed over? Too high of a salary demand:
From his height to his biceps, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood — and that goes for his paycheck too! Industry insiders say [he] is desperate to be James Bond’s next bad guy, but producers can’t afford him. “Dwayne asked for more money than Daniel Craig gets to play Bond!” explains the source, who adds that the role calls for a hulking brute similar to metal-mouthed baddie Jaws from the early Bond films. “Dwayne thought he’d be perfect, but shooting starts in a few weeks. Unless he lowers his rates, it’s not going to happen.” So who should fill the coveted role instead?
[From Star, print edition, September 22, 2014]
If this story is true, then Dwayne Johnson comes off as surprisingly douchey here. Yeah he’s an incredible box-office draw for franchises that need a quick boost. James Bond does not need any help. The 007 movies are huge money makers, and any actor would be grateful to land a role for any dollar amount. It would be laughable for The Rock to demand a greater salary than Bond himself. Nice try though.
Star offers up Terry Crews, Jason Momoa, or Vin Diesel as alternatives to The Rock in a 007 villain role. What do you think? Vin is too obvious of a choice. Terry or Jason sound like decent picks. Ooh, you know who would be cool? Tom Hardy.
FYI: Terry Crews wore these pants to visit Jimmy Kimmel last week. This ensemble is nowhere near cool enough for a Bond villain.
Photos courtesy of WENN
Jason Momoa!!! he would be the best vilain!
Yes + 100! He would make an awesome Bond villain.
Agreed
He seems like he’d be magnetic as a villain. I’m all in on that one.
Tom can’t play a villain again. He’s Bane. End on story.
just one photo of Jason Momoa?
I know right!!!
Awww. I’ll do better next time, promise!
I’m scanning along, all innocent, and suddenly THERE’S MOMOA UP IN HERE. It’s going to be a good day.
HAHA! Right?
Oh Terry, you are a marvellous man, why oh why did you dress like that?
The Rock needs to tell you who his tailor and stylist are.
I love Terry so much on Brooklyn 99!
If this is a role The Rock really wants, he should take a smaller salary. Highly paid actors do that all the time.
I love Terry so much on Brooklyn 99!
Me too.
I love Terry Crews, he always seems to make perfect statements about things that are happening in the media or around the world that seem so genuine (like his tweets about Ray Rice). He seems like a great guy.
Terry is awesome! There isn’t a movie where he was bad! I love him in “White Chicks”, in “Everybody Hates Chris”, he’s super!
Rest in peace, Richard Kiel – aka Jaws – who just recently passed away. <3
As for the Rock, he needs to get over himself.
I hate Bond movies. I’ve seen several (with different “Bonds”) and they are just not very good overall. But if the Rock were in one I would definitely watch. So if there are a lot of women who feel the way I do it might be worth it to pay his asking price.
That’s funny, I was coming on to comment that I’ve seen (and read) almost every Bond, but have never seen The Rock in a movie and have zero plans to watch him. Wrestler, please!!
You are missing out. The man has charisma, even in the really early, bad movies.
I completely agree. I would actual pay to watch the Rock in a Bond movie at the theater, with or without my hubby. That’s how hardcore I am. Sad, I know. Slinking off now
Did I miss something? Wasn’t Chiwetel Ejiofor the top choice for the villain role?
Yes. He’s the villain in the next Bond film due out next year.
Happily Bond’s producers want a real actor to act the baddie
I don’t know if I believe this – to think you should earn more than James Bond in a James Bond movie is ludicrous, and I can’t imagine what kind of actor would seriously think he’d actually be able to command more than Daniel Craig, the titular role-holder.
Surely no-one is this delusional.
A Bond man should be a man you want to kiss. The Rock? Not so much.
I want to do a lot more than kiss the rock, a lot of women and men feel the same way.
Jason Momoa makes me want to do things….bad things..
The Rock and Jason in the same thread. My happiness knows no bounds.
Do you think that Javier Bardem was paid less than Daniel Craig? Because I’m betting no.
Not that The Rock = Bardem but think about it… The villain makes the movie.
He would definitely be worth it. I don’t have a problem with the highest paid actor in Hollywood knowing his value. I would go see the movie just for the rock’s role as well. I doubt he wants the money upfront- probably looking for a back-end deal (I guess you call it? Where the actor makes a percentage of the profits?). I would think that would be totally appropriate.
Star Magazine?? I don’t believe a word of it! The Rock would make an awesome villian for James Bond. I hope it happens!
It’s Star and there are only positive stories of folks working with the Rock, so I am going to stick my head in the sand like a good little ostrich and pretend it isn’t true. La la la la!
The Bond franchise is the boss here, but I can’t blame Dwayne for swinging for the fences. I think he’s probably a bigger “star” than Daniel Craig will ever be, yet there is no chance that Dwayne or any other star “of color” will be cast as Bond. So I kind of have a feeling Dwayne is making a point here that isn’t coming across.
If you look at the past choices of James Bond villains it were European actors known for their achievements in more low budget art films like Mads Mikkelsen, Javier Bardiem etc, The Rock is too much of an American movie star. Big budget movie try get their credibility by hiring critically acclaimed actor, so I doubt he ever was really considered for it.
Not quite true, there have been a few American villains – telly salvalas, chris walken, yaphet koto for example
Terry Crews and his flexible chest muscles get my vote but that is the worst outfit I’ve ever seen on a man. Is he on his way to an incredibly buff clown convention?
Compare box office mojo for the rock vs craig.
Let’s call it a day, and make them ALL the most awesome Bond Villain Trifecta!! What name could we give them? The Naked Three? Three Bad Naked Guys? The (Naked)Triple Threat? Help me.
He is still a C-list talent. Most people still refer to him as ‘The Rock’, not even by his ‘professional actor’ name. They don’t even know his real name. That’s because he is always playing a version of The Rock anyway. Extremely one-note in every movie. And him asking for a fee larger than the actor who has been successfully playing Bond himself is a joke unlike any other.
He needs to wake up and realize he will never be the next Tom Cruise or Will Smith. Even their careers have diminished significantly in the last 10 years.
All his movies tank. He has no hit under his belt aside from those F+F movies, and those movies make all that money because of the legacy of that cheesy franchise. Nobody cares if this guy is in them or not.
He is a nice enough guy, but an awful actor and I am using the term ‘actor’ very loosely here. I also do not know that many men or women who are all that crazy about him. Him being in a particular movie is always an indication that the movie in question is gonna suck. Big time. He should keep his underwhelming presence away from the Bond franchise. He is not good enough for it. Cannot follow the likes of Mad Mikkelsen or Javier Bardem as the next villain.
Who told you that? The man has had some stinkers, but over the last few years as he’s carved out a niche for himself as a franchise re-starter and studios have practically been throwing money at him . Those Fast and the Furious movies are ridiculous but they’re massively successful and a lot of that is due to Johnson’s presence. He may not be your cup of tea, but just because you don’t like his movies yourself doesn’t mean that he’s not successful. The man was #2 on the last Forbes list for goodness sake.
I respectfully disagree.
He is not an actor to be taken seriously, or a name in the business. His movies always tank (Hercules, being the latest) or turn in very modest profits. Tooth Fairy, Pain and Gain, Snitch? Who remembers those films? And nobody remembers him in the F+F franchise. The latest movies of that franchise made money, because the original gang was back together, driving those insane cars. It is the Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese etc. combo that made those movies what they are.
The Rock never received critical acclaim for any one of his roles or movies. Even Arnold and Sly Stallone have received critical acclaim for some of their performances. He is yet to work w/ a decent director in a semi-decent film. He is always playing the same guy. Admittedly him being not Caucasian is hurting his chances in Hollywood in terms of what type of roles he can play. But w/ that body and look, it is not like they can cast him in just anything and make it believable.
I think mamoa is a great choice. He looks mean but in a sexy way. Terry cruise is way too likable for me to see him play a bond villian. I can’t really imagine the rock as a bond villian either though.
This seems kind of out of character for someone who is such a down to earth and nice guy. Since it’s from Star I’ll take it with a grain of salt. Jason would be awesome as a Bond villain. I don’t really watch the movies any more. I’m a huge fan of the pre-90s films though.
I don’t think Jason Momoa would be a good choice at all. I don’t see him as the “villain at all. I see him as more muscle behind the brain. He doesn’t seem the Master mind type to me. Not saying he is not an intelligent man, but he just doesn’t see like he would have the layers needed to make an interesting villain. I see him more as doing the dirty work then thinking up the idea.
Jason Momoa. I’d join the dark side, and cheer on the villain. Good god that man does it for me.
Can’t stand him … now I know why. He thinks he’s worth more than the star of the Bond films? Yeah, right. Twit.