Dwayne Johnson Told His Agents After ‘Scorpion King’ That ‘I Could Be Bigger’ Than Will Smith or George Clooney; They Doubted Him, So He Got New Agents

As a movie enthusiast who has witnessed the meteoric rise of numerous stars over the years, I must say that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s journey to Hollywood stardom is nothing short of breathtaking. The man started with wrestling and transitioned into acting, becoming one of the most bankable actors in Tinsel Town, surpassing even his idols Will Smith and George Clooney in terms of box office earnings.


After kick-starting his acting career with “The Scorpion King” in 2002, Dwayne Johnson found himself starring in one family-friendly film after another, which brought him success but left him hungering for even greater accomplishments. Determined to achieve much more than just matching the success of Will Smith, Johnson communicated his ambitions to his agents. However, when they showed doubt, he decided to part ways with them.

According to Johnson’s latest GQ feature, he observed the current scene and identified those who were leading. He then approached his representatives and expressed his aspiration, despite any recent setbacks – he aimed for a career like George Clooney or Will Smith, but even more successful or impressive. When his original agents seemed doubtful about this strategy, he switched to new ones.

Johnson, reflecting on his past plan, shared with GQ that his thinking was, ‘I could be distinct,’ rather than larger than Clooney and Smith. He emphasized this point respectfully, acknowledging a desire to chart a unique path since there seemed to be no established roadmap for someone like him. Looking back at his career now, he believes the aim should not be about being bigger than Will or George; instead, it’s about being different.

Johnson has become one of the most prominent actors and producers globally, with box office earnings surpassing $4.5 billion. This level of success places him alongside stars like Clooney and Smith in terms of fame. But how did he achieve this? According to an interview with GQ, part of his secret was not just selecting appealing projects for his fans but also strategically timing their release.

Johnson stated, ‘The date is Christmas, in X year.’ Almost two years prior to that: ‘That’s our date.’ Now the movie begins. We work backwards from there. For quite a few years, I found myself doing exactly that and it proved beneficial for my career development.

He also mentioned that he had a particular notion about his career and aspired for something ideal. [In other words]: Audience satisfaction was paramount to him. Whenever he received material, his first thought was always, “Does this have broad appeal across all age groups? Will the audience find it appealing if I play this role?

Through his determined mindset, Johnson propelled himself into a successful and expansive Hollywood career, marked by blockbusters such as “Moana,” the “Fast & Furious” series, “Jumanji,” and many others. His newest film, the festive action-comedy “Red One,” is set to hit cinemas on November 15, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.

Head over to GQ’s website to read Johnson’s cover in its entirety.

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2024-11-13 00:46