Now that he’s one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has pretty much walked away from wrestling for good. He still makes the odd guest appearance here and there (to great effect), but his days as an active WWE Superstar appear to be well and truly at an end.
That being said, it looks like the Baywatch star will be stepping back into the ring – albeit in a different capacity – for Fighting With My Family, a movie being produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, WWE Studios and Film4. Stephen Merchant (who wrote the UK version of The Office alongside Ricky Gervais and will next been seen in Logan) is penning the screenplay, while Florence Pugh will play Paige (a member of the WWE roster currently on the shelf with an injury) and Jack Lowden has been cast as her brother Zak.
For more on what to expect from Fighting With My Family, here’s the logline for the project:
“[It] follows the story of reformed gangster and former wrestler Ricky, his wife Julia, daughter Saraya and son Zak who make a living performing in tiny venues across the country. Ricky and Julia want a better life for their children and when brother and sister get the chance to audition for the WWE, it seems the family dream is coming true and all their troubles will be solved. However, Saraya and Zak are about to learn that becoming a WWE Superstar demands more than they ever imagined possible as athletes and siblings.”
The movie starts shooting in Los Angeles and London this month, though it’s unclear whether or not some bigger name stars will be cast to make this more than just another WWE Studios straight-to-DVD release. Johnson certainly sounds excited to tackle the story though, as he had this to say about Fighting With My Family‘s inception.
“Back in 2012, I was in my hotel room in London and stumbled across a documentary on a local UK channel. Not only was I intrigued by this loving and wild family, but I also felt it’s the kind of narrative that would make an amazing movie. The Knights’ journey is a universal one that all families are familiar with. I relate to Saraya (Paige) and her wrestling family on such a personal level and it means so much that I can help tell their story.”
This certainly sounds pretty interesting, and providing the comedy is strong enough, it won’t be a movie which will appeal solely to wrestling fans. Still, WWE viewers and those familiar Paige will no doubt get the most out of Fighting With My Family and with Johnson attached to produce, we’re hopeful that it ends up being worth a watch.