Dwayne Johnson might be one of the biggest movie stars in the world, to wrestling fans he will always be The Rock.
After a well-documented shaky start to life in WWE, Johnson quickly rose to become World Champion, and before long he was one of the biggest stars in the company. By the time his full-time career came to an end in 2002, he was one of the biggest names the industry had ever seen, transcending the squared circle entirely.
Johnson’s latest venture, Black Adam, the next instalment in the DC Extended Universe is due to hit screens with days and he has offered an insight into his process in creating the movie.
Wrestling Played A Key Role In The Creation Of Black Adam
Appearing on Jake’s Takes, Johnson explained that a life in wrestling prepared him for making the film. The former WWE Champion revealed that working in wrestling taught him to listen to the audience, something he has carried with him into his acting career.
Yes, number one. Number two, me cutting my teeth and making my bones in pro wrestling, even before WWE, when I started down in Memphis wrestling for Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, and Jeff Jarrett and those guys. Wrestling in those little flea markets that I used to wrestle at, then getting to WWE, my experience in the world of pro wrestling helped me craft an even better Black Adam.
Ultimately, what the world of wrestling always did for me, number one, always listen to the audience. Let them inform you. They will always inform you on where you need to go. Also, do your best to think 10, 12, 20 steps ahead. In the world of wrestling, oftentimes, if I knew what our WrestleMania main event would be, me and say ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. We’d work backward from there. It’s the same thing.
The ultimate goal was not only to deliver Black Adam, but deliver the JSA [Justice Society of America], five new superhero characters in one movie, but also stretch the universe out, and think about what it would look like if Black Adam were to face any of these other characters.”
During the press tour for Black Adam Dwayne Johnson paid tribute to veteran wrestling photographer George Napolitano. The photographer has been photographing the megastar’s family for decades, something he hasn’t forgotten.
H/t to Fightful