UPDATE: The Dallas Observer reached out to Johnson’s publicist who had this to say, “Yup — we can confirm his attachment.” Alrighty!
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been many things: a football player, wrestler, tooth fairy, secret agent, spaceman, and several others. Now he will take on the role of Country music legend, Charley Pride.
At one point Terrence Howard was set for the role, then things shifted. Pride explains, “But then the ball got fumbled. New management took over the studio that was ready to begin site work on it. And a decision was made to put all their resources behind thrillers – fast actioners. They felt that was where the big box office money was then.”
Craig Brewer (HUSTLE & FLOW) was attached to direct and that fell apart too. Now things are starting anew with Johnson, “Now it’s back on track again but with action and comedy star Dwayne Johnson portraying me in the title role. Terrence, it seems, is tied up on other involvements for a few years.”
At first Pride seemed a little leery of Johnson portraying him, but now he thinks he will do fine, “I think so now. Terrence is no doubt a more in-depth actor academically, but Dwayne is such a force on screen. It startled me a little at first, but he flew down to Dallas and spent a day with me just sitting, talking recently. And when he left it was like parting with an old friend. We had such similar views on so many things.”
I’ve always liked Johnson, so this ought to be interesting.
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