Rock to play Johnny Bravo (update)
It looks like the Rock will be keeping busy in Hollywood for a while. Variety is reporting that The Rock is set to play Johnny Bravo in the live-action film based on the hit Cartoon Network show.

The Rock is also in post-production on the movie “Walking Tall” at the moment, and is set to begin filming the movie “Spy Hunter” in the spring of next year. With all of these movie projects, The Rock will most likely only make a very quick return to the WWE (probably around Wrestlemania 20) before heading back off to Hollywood again

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Rock at Football game
The Rock was in attendance at the New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game yesterday. As most know, Rock is a big Dolphins fan and is often known to workout with the players in the Dolphins gym and training facility.
rajah wwf.com

Rock to be in Terminator 4?
Rumor has it that The Rock?s new movie project will be Terminator 4. There have reportedly been meetings to do the movie, despite part 3 being such a box office disappointment, earning about $150 million domestic gross. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California?s governor elect, has ruled out doing movies for the next several years, and when asked, preferred The Rock to do the movie. The talk suggests that the movie would be ready for a summer 2005 release, which means that filming will begin next year.
credit:rajahwwf.com

More acting roles won’t mean retirement from wrestling for The Rock

SINGAPORE : The Rock is a pretty good actor, really. Anybody who’s watched the wildly popular World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star in the ring will know him as a tenacious, hot-tempered character who won’t think twice about slamming his patented “People’s Elbow” on an opponent.

He struts around with a no-nonsense attitude, often with a goading, disdainful stare complete with a trademark arched eyebrow. The 1.94m-tall giant, with monster biceps and a rippled body, has a mean, intimidating presence as a wrestler.

In real life, however, he seems totally different. He’s polite, soft-spoken, good-naturedly humourous and has a really laid-back air. In short, he sounds like a bit of a softy. Not that I would ever say that to him.

Carefully addressing the 31-year-old as Mr Johnson ? the “People’s Champion” was born Dwayne Johnson ? I asked him in a telephone interview about his growing clout as a Hollywood actor, the new roles he’s been getting and whether his burgeoning acting career will mean an early retirement from wrestling.

After all, The Scorpion King, the first movie he headlined after a much-trumpeted cameo role in The Mummy Returns, was a bona fide hit that made about US$90 million ($156 million) and earned him a cool US$5.5 million pay cheque.

He’s followed that up with The Rundown, which opens here tomorrow, an adventure-comedy co-starring Seann William Scott (American Pie) and Rosario Dawson (25th Hour).

The movie, which paid Johnson US$12.5 million, has already made US$40 million after three weeks in theatres.

Having seen the movie, I can vouch for his promising performance, in a role that requires more lines and actual acting than previous roles did.

At the moment, with plenty of money and new roles coming his way, life is good for The Rock , isn’t it?

“It’s pretty damn good,” he says, chuckling. “It’s great and I’m really fortunate to have lots of good people around me, a great family who help keep my feet on the ground.”

Born in Miami, Florida, to African-American and Samoan-American parents, Johnson has long had wrestling in his blood. His father and maternal grandfather were both pro wrestlers with the WWE.

Juggling two careers can be very demanding, admits Johnson, who’s married with a young daughter. To play a bounty hunter in Rundown, he had to lose 20 pounds (about 10kg) of his considerable bulk.

“It’s not easy to take weight on and off. To get back in the ring, I’ve got to make sure I’m 100 per cent prepared,” says the self-professed fitness junkie.

Having said that, Johnson is adamant he won’t quit wrestling.

“I look forward to being challenged as an actor, but I love going back to the ring to have fun with the fans. That interaction, I love. So, I can honestly say I don’t think I’ll officially retire.”

“I don’t want to be one of those guys who retires and then three months later says ‘I’m back!’” he says.

There’s also no chance of Johnson stepping away from acting anytime soon. He’s just finished wrapping up a dramatic leading role in Walking Tall, an action drama slated for release next year and is keen to play the lead role in King Kamehameha, a currently undated project about a legendary Hawaiian ruler.

“They’re still writing the (Kamehameha) script and it’s in really good shape,” he says. “For me that’s such a big ‘acting movie’ and it would be to me what Ali was to Will Smith.”

“Now I’m not saying Oscar nod, I’m not saying that at all! I’m just saying it’s a big challenge and when the time is right, when I can give the performance it deserves, that’s when I’ll do it.”

For the moment, Johnson isn’t seen simply as an action star anymore, thanks to Rundown showcasing his comedic side. Of the raft of scripts that he’s considering now, many are in the action-comedy vein.

“I’ve always been a big fan of comedy, especially those with characters who poke fun at themselves,” says Johnson, who lets on that his sense of humour skews towards self-deprecation as well.

His Rundown character is often cool and unflappable, but there are moments when he’s made to look a little silly. Not a problem for Johnson, who calls himself and co-star Scott both “goofballs”.

He even declares: “In real life, I’m the bigger goofball.”

When they were working together on the set, Johnson would constantly try to put Scott off, like going up to him before a scene and whispering in his ear: “Whatever you do, don’t screw up!”

“Then I’d walk away,” he laughed. “I gave him a lot of good advice!” –

credit:rajahwwf

Rock Has to Be Cool

MGM looking to The Rock to become a singing sensation in their Get Shorty sequel.

By Spencer Garvey

With MGM set to begin production on the Get Shorty sequel Be Cool in January, the studio has begun negotiations with The Rock to join John Travolta in the F. Gary Gray-helmed project. Travolta is now in final negotiations to reprise his Chili Palmer character, with former Jersey Films partners Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher on board to produce with Elmore Leonard, who wrote the book on which the film is based, and Leonard’s manager Michael Siegel

Be Cool has Travolta’s Palmer character moving from the movie biz into the music industry. After witnessing the murder of a music industry friend by the mob, Palmer agrees to become the manager of a rising star singer, but he’s soon threatened by her manager, who also has mob connections. The Rock would play her manager’s bodyguard, who happens to be gay, and wants to become a singing sensation himself. Palmer then tries to convince the rugged bodyguard to become a film star.

WMA is now finalizing deals for both Travolta and Gray. Gray will likely use his music video background to secure cameos from some of the music industry’s top talent, much the way celebrities popped up in the Barry Sonnenfeld-helmed Get Shorty.

The Rock, repped by UTA, can currently be seen on the big screen in The Rundown and recently completed filming on MGM’s Walking Tall remake. Should a deal come through, The Rock will likely shoot Be Cool before transitioning to Universal adaptation of the video game Spy Hunter.

For MGM, Elizabeth Cantillon and Michael Nathanson are overseeing the Be Cool project. They hope to make the film a holiday 2004 release.

thanks to vicki for sending this in!

GQ Announces Its 2003 Men of the Year

Winners Appear in the November Issue of GQ, on sale October 21st

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Winners of the eighth annual GQ “Men of
the Year” Awards(TM) were announced today by GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson.
The twenty-six men from all walks of life were judged and selected by the
editors of the magazine. The GQ “Men of the Year” Awards(TM) recognize
sensational men of distinction from the worlds of music, fashion and style,
film, sports, comedy, and television. These awards not only celebrate the
winners’ achievements but also recognize that these men have joined the league
of extraordinary gentleman. The “Men of the Year” are featured in the
November 2003 issue of GQ, which hits newsstands on Tuesday, October 21.
One of the magazine’s most anticipated events, the GQ “Men of the Year”
Awards(TM) show will be televised LIVE at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, for
the first time on Spike TV. The show will feature ten “Men of the Year” award
winners from the November issue of GQ.
The GQ “Men of the Year” Awards(TM) live on Spike TV, is sponsored by
Hummer and L’Oreal.

The 2003 GQ “Men of the Year” include:

SURVIVOR:
Aron Ralston
FUNNYMAN:
Dave Chappelle
ROOKIE:
Amare Stoudemire
COACH:
Jon Gruden
SHOWMAN:
Justin Timberlake
TV PROVOCATEUR:
Roger Ailes
DESIGN TEAM:
Dean & Dan Catten of DSQUARED
TV ACTOR:
William Petersen
LEADING MAN:
Colin Farrell
ACTOR:
Adrien Brody
SWASHBUCKLER
Johnny Depp
BALLER:
Tim Duncan
MOST EXCITING ATHLETE:
Michael Vick
FREE RADICAL:
Viggo Mortensen
CRANK:
Larry David
COMIC ICON
Bill Murray
VOICE OF REASON
Jon Stewart
PHENOM:
50 Cent
DEFENDER:
Simeon Rice
DESIGNERS:
Dolce & Gabbana
VISIONARY:
Peter Jackson
ROCK ICON:
Dave Grohl
MOST STYLISH:
Ashton Kutcher
ACTION HERO:
The Rock

GQ, a Conde Nast Publication, is the award-winning men’s general-interest
magazine.

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 86 million homes and
is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks owns and operates the cable
television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick
at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and Spike TV, as well as
The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services,
all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and
offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its
programming can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE GQ
Web Site: http://www.gq.com

Presenters at the GQ ‘Men of the Year’ Awards(TM) Live on Spike TV October 21 at 9:00 P.M.
Wednesday October 15, 11:27 am ET
Comedian John Henson to Interview Celebrities From the Red Carpet
Spike TV’s Matt Kennedy Gould (The Joe Schmo Show),
Funkmaster Flex (Ride With Funkmaster Flex), and Race Car Driver Danica Patrick (Zero to Sixty) to Attend Show

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Charlize Theron, David Spade (Dickie Roberts), Eva Mendes (Out of Time), Kim Cattrall (Sex in the City), and Mandy Moore will be among those presenting awards to 2003′s outstanding gentlemen at the eighth annual GQ “Men of the Year” Awards(TM) on Tuesday, October 21 at 9:00 P.M. LIVE on Spike TV from the Regent Wall Street in New York City.
Others scheduled to appear include The Rock, Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Aisha Tyler (Friends), Dan Rather, Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded), Eva Herzigova, Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II), Erika Christensen (Traffic), Mo Rocca (The Daily Show), and Wanda Sykes.

Former host, writer and executive producer of Emmy winning Talk Soup, John Henson will be on the red carpet for Spike TV during the first half-hour of the show interviewing the Hollywood heavyweights and fashionistas as they first arrive.

In attendance at this year’s awards will be the luminaries from various Spike TV hit series, including Matt Kennedy Gould (The Joe Schmo Show), renowned DJ and car aficionado Funkmaster Flex (Ride With Funkmaster Flex), and race-car driver and host of Zero to Sixty, Danica Patrick.

The eighth annual GQ “Men of the Year” Awards(TM) recognize sensational men of distinction from the worlds of music, fashion and style, film, sports, comedy, and television. These awards not only celebrate the winners’ achievements but recognize that these men have joined the league of extraordinary gentleman. The “Men of the Year” are featured in the November 2003 issue of GQ which hits newsstands on Tuesday, October 21, 2003.

The GQ “Men of the Year” Awards(TM), live on Spike TV, is sponsored by Hummer and L’Oreal.

GQ, a Conde Nast publication, is the leading men’s general-interest magazine.

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 86 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and Spike TV, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

——————————————————————————–
Source: Spike TV; GQ,

No retirement for Rock!
Yes, The Rock has been successful in Hollywood and currently has several feature film roles lined up, however he isn’t planning to retire from wrestling anytime soon. He was quoted as saying the following when talking to Channelnewsasia.com:
“I look forward to being challenged as an actor, but I love going back to the ring to have fun with the fans. That interaction, I love. So, I can honestly say I don’t think I’ll officially retire. I don’t want to be one of those guys who retires and then three months later says ‘I’m back!’”
rajahwwf.com

The Rock Finds Instant Karma
Source: Variety Tuesday, October 14, 2003

New Line Cinema has given the go ahead to The Rock comedy Instant Karma, to be produced by visual f/x studio Digital Domain and Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott.

The film will blend live action and CGI to tell the story of a safecracker, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who dies and is reincarnated as a series of different animals, moving his way up the food chain.

Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino, David Alan Grier and Eartha Kitt also star in the live-action elements, while Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Gene Wilder and the comedy troupe Broken Lizard provide voices of the animals.

Paul Hernandez will make his feature writing and directing debut on the film, which is budgeted at $70 million. Production is expected to begin in April in New Orleans

ROCK ONCE AGAIN TALKS ABOUT HIS FUTURE IN WRESTLING
by Dave Scherer and Alex

The Rock was on KISS 106.1 in Seattle this morning. He talked about The Rundown and using the Rock Bottom as a “wink” to the wrestling fans. The hosts said wrestling is a sidebar for him now, and The Rock said, “I’ll still answer questions about it, I love wrestling.” He went on to talk about seven years ago, after graduating from Miami, and deciding what he was going to do with his life. They asked if he owns the name “The Rock,” and if Vince McMahon gets anything for the use of it. Rock said it is his. He talked about how weird it was to watch himself on screen, how big his head is, and how his tongue on the big screen looks ten feet long. Pretty funny stuff.

When asked if he was done with the wrestling business, Rock said, “I love wrestling, and I grew up in the business. “Whenever I go back to wrestling I want to do something different. It’s bittersweet. I want to do movies, and entertain the fans. But I wish I were there. I would say this, I would do that.” That wrapped up the interview.

Note from Scherer: From what I have gathered in the last few weeks, it?s fair to say that at the present time, everyone involved is proceeding as if Rock is, at best, a part time part of WWE. They can expect occasional appearances from him, but that is pretty much it at this point.

1wrestling.com

Rock confirms SNL hosting gig for next year
The Rock was on Z95.3FM in Vancouver, Canada this morning and said that he is hosting SNL in the spring of 2004 and that he is in line to film Spy Hunter with Universal Pictures next year.
rajahwwf.com