Dwayne Johnson – former professional wrestler, highest paid actor (Clooney wasn’t even in a movie last year – he doesn’t count) in the world, and massive, lovable teddy bear – seems like he never slows down. In addition to acting in several wildly successful movies every year, Johnson also stars in the HBO series Ballers. Over the last few years, Johnson has started dabbling in production, and has even speculated on a run in politics at some point. Regardless of how the man does it, Johnson continues to churn out material, and he just released a new teaser for his upcoming Netflix project: John Henry and the Statesmen. Check it out here:
When the man comes around..
Honored to play a childhood hero of mine, JOHN HENRY & his disruptive band of fellow folklore legends from around the world. @netflix are the perfect partners and platform to build.
Directed by Jake Kasdan (JUMANJI).
JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN ?? pic.twitter.com/vJ0nkCYXDH— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 9, 2018
It’s not much to go on, but it seems like a pretty perfect role for Dwayne Johnson to take on. He will play the title role, who you remember from “tall tales” in your younger years. In folklore, John Henry was a man tasked with breaking through rock so that explosives could clear the way for railroad tracks through mountains. He was so good at it that he raced against a newly invented steam-powered machine to see if it could outpace him. Henry prevails in the competition, but his heart gives out when it is over, and he dies with “a hammer in his hand.”
The Netflix original will be directed by Jake Kasdan, who worked with Dwayne Johnson on Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It will take a few liberties with the story, but it sounds like John Henry and several other American folklore legends (think Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, etc.) will make up a group called “The Statesmen,” which is not to be confused with the Statesman organization from Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
As the show is described as a family adventure story, it sounds like this group will fight criminals, save the world, etc. It is based on an original script from Tom Wheeler, who wrote The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and is expected, if successful, to launch a new franchise for Dwayne Johnson.
What other legends from American folklore do you want to see appear in John Henry and the Statesmen? How many awesome videos will Dwayne Johnson post of himself smashing rocks with a massive sledge hammer? Let us know in the comments below!
