From the DC Extended Universe to Universal’s Dark Universe, it feels like Dwayne Johnson is constantly rumored or attached to yet another franchise role. Since his big-screen debut way back in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, the wrestler-turned-actor has become one of the most beloved and profitable movie stars of the modern age. So it’s no wonder that every franchise is anxious to get into business with him. In just the past few years alone, Johnson has lent his impressive star power and boundless likeability to a number of franchises, boosting their performance considerably. Let’s look at some properties that have gotten to smell what The Rock is cooking.
2 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
In 2008, Brendan Fraser led the family-friendly adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth — based on Jules Verne’s novel — to box office success. But when it came time for the sequel, new director Brad Peyton (who would later reteam with Johnson on San Andreas) brought Johnson in to raise his film’s profile. The result? A worldwide box office gross nearly $100 million higher than its predecessor. Needless to say, Johnson — not his The Mummy Returns co-star Fraser — is expected to return for the in-development third entry in the series.
