14 DAY TRIAL // As the billboard for his Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s latest movie reads, “this year, the holidays come faster.” “Faster” is the name of his most recent film, an action-packed production that seems him return to the genre that brought him to the map.
In an interview with ScreenCrave, the actor talks about returning to action movies, how much effort he put in to bulk up (even more) for the part, and whether he’d like to work with Jason Statham.
According to the actor, the fact that his character, Driver, has spent the last 10 years of his life in prison (with more than 9 of them in solitary confinement), told him that he had to bulk up to play him.
Consequently, for about three and a half months before production started, Dwayne worked his backside off, as he puts it. He also had some help on this from former inmates, who offered him insights into the type of training he should do.
It was well worth it, though, even if his more recent releases saw him as a box office success with Disney films. Dwayne was made for action movies and he’s the first to admit to that.
So, naturally, doing “Faster” was a blessing for him, he says.
“It was just a matter of getting good material that resonated with me, that I had been waiting for, for sometime. I’ve enjoyed the work I’ve done in the past whether it was Disney or some of the other studios, doing comedies with them,” the actor says.
“But the philosophy has always been pretty clean and straight forward which is if I see something that I like, and I can see its value to the audience, its value to me, then I’m going to take my shot at it regardless of the genre,” Johnson adds.
“Action for me, the genre, has always been my home. I’m a physical guy,” Dwayne adds. Then again, having a diverse career is also important, which explains his recent absence from action movies.
“I didn’t want to be defined ten years ago. It’s my 10th year now. I didn’t want to be defined or pitched as the action guy, the comedy guy, the family guy. I really wanted to do everything, take my shot at it, give solid performances, hopefully get better over time,” the actor explains.
“Faster” also stars Tom Berenger, Maggie Grace and Jennifer Carpenter and is scheduled for threatrical release in the US theaters on November 24.