Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might have failed to change the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe, but he continues to do well for himself. His Christmas action comedy, Red One, is slowly bringing in millions for MGM, and it’s expected to perform even better once it lands on Prime Video. Bookmakers would also be wise to favor Moana 2 since the first installment grossed $687.2 million globally against a $175 million budget, making it one of the most profitable movies of the past decade.
Even though these major blockbusters are guaranteed to keep him a household name for the foreseeable future, The Rock isn’t stepping out of the kitchen yet. The cooking continues, but what’s in the oven? Well, movies like Red Notice 2, Jungle Cruise 2, San Andreas 2, The King, and the remake of Big Trouble in Little China have all been hinted at, but there is no concrete news yet. Here is what’s confirmed to be in the pipeline for the star.
5 ‘The Smashing Machine’ (2025)
Often criticized for having a one-dimensional career, Dwayne Johnson is taking a shot at Oscar glory with The Smashing Machine. Produced by A24, the film is a biopic about wrestler and MMA fighter, Mark Kerr.
The two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion’s name never became as famous as McGregor or Ngannou, but his trophy room is shiny enough to make Goldfinger curious. He is a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, an NCAA Division I champion, and a freestyle wrestling gold and silver medalist in the World Cup and the Pan American Games. On top of that, he is a four-time ADCC World Champion.
The Perfect Role for an Experienced Wrestler
As someone who has been in the ring multiple times, Dwayne Johnson is perfect for the role. And fans would be happy to know that he is taking this very seriously. A24 posted a first look on X, revealing a nearly unrecognizable Dwayne Johnson (in the right makeup and all), with his Jungle Cruise co-star, Emily Blunt, outside the ring as Kerr’s spouse, Dawn Staples. Boxing fans are also in for a treat as heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is set to play the Ukrainian destroyer, Igor Vovchanchyn.
A similarly titled documentary covering the life of Kerr was released by HBO in 2002, and if the movie sticks to the same events, it could be a real award magnet. The documentary addresses many controversial sports-related issues, especially the tendency of promotions to shift goalposts for talented athletes. Kett, for example, was banned from using headbutts to prevent him from incapacitating opponents too quickly. Hopefully, director Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) will give us this and much more.
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4 ‘Fast X: Part II’ (2026)
Dwayne Johnson changed the Fast & Furious franchise for the better. The franchise also changed him for the better. Before his casting as the bulked-up DSS agent Luke Hobbs, Johnson was just another former wrestler trying his luck in Hollywood. After Fast X, he became one of the world’s most bankable stars. On the other hand, the franchise improved greatly after he joined, turning from an ordinary race-n’-heist affair to a global espionage saga.
Johnson is confirmed to be a part of the final chapter after appearing in the post-credits scene of Fast X where his character dares Dante Reyes to come find him, before crashing his phone with his bare hand. Cheesy… but we’ll take it.
Johnson’s Return Is a Surprise
For a while, it looked like Dwayne Johnson was done with this franchise. His feud with Vin Diesel seemed like the kind no conciliator could handle. Then came the surprise cameo, followed by an X post confirming that Big Hobbs will indeed be back. “Hope you’ve got your funderwear on…” he wrote, before adding, “I’ve built my career on an ‘Audience First’ mentality and that will always serve as my North Star.”
Hobbs’ return echoes a common trend in the franchise where warring factions keep reconciling. Who thought Deckard Shaw would team up with Dom? Hobbs too, couldn’t stand Dom when they first met. Now they are happy to engage in an endless game of “my muscles are bigger than yours.”
3 ‘Moana’ (2026)
Disney loves live-action remakes of their animated productions and Moana is getting the same treatment. Directed by Thomas Kail in his narrative feature directorial debut, the film will see Dwayne Johnson reprise his role as Maui. However, the rest of the cast will consist of fresh faces, notably Catherine Lagaʻaia in her acting debut as the titular character.
Continuing a Fun Chapter
During his appearance at CinemaCon 2024, Johnson revealed that the film will feature an “all-new setting and, of course, all new songs.” The idea of releasing the live-action version on July 10, 2026, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the release of the original film, is a good one, and given the success the franchise has had so far, there is no need to be skeptical about the chances of success. Most Disney live-action remakes have performed well too, at the box office.
Most importantly, this isn’t just a pointless remake. It means a lot to Johnson. He told Variety.
“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. ….”
We definitely look forward to it.
2 ‘Jumanji 3’ (2026)
Dwayne Johnson is also set to return as the international explorer and famed archaeologist Dr. Xander “Smolder” Bravestone — one of the five playable characters in the video game version of “JUMANJI”. Jumanji 3 is confirmed for a theatrical release on Dec. 11, 2026., according to Variety.
What Next for the Adventurers?
No Dwayne Johnson film series is more deserving of a sequel than Jumanji. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle made over $960 million worldwide, finishing as the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2017, while Jumanji: The Next Level was similarly a cash storm, grossing over $800 million worldwide. Unfortunately, this will be the final entry, according to Kevin Hart. Should Hollywood’s obsession with trilogies end? That’s a subject worthy of a lengthy debate,
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1 ‘Monster Jam’ (Undisclosed Release Date)
At the 2024 D23 Expo, Dwayne Johnson announced that he is developing a movie based on Monster Jam. At Monster Jam events, modified monster trucks normally face off in three forms of competition: racing, two-wheel innovative skills, and freestyle. The motorsport event began in 1992 and is sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association.
Unofficial Fast & Furious Spinoff?
A Monster Jam event feels like it would fit right into the Fast & Furious franchise. But since nobody has thought about it, it doesn’t hurt for Johnson to make his movie. By now, he is familiar with what it takes to create a proper car extravaganza for cinema, having also starred in Faster. Additionally, Johnson is familiar with high-adrenaline sporting events, having served as the host of The Titan Games for two seasons. Besides that, there was a Monster Jam episode in his underrated HBO drama, Billions.
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