Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is currently in a weird spot. For the last decade, you basically knew what you were getting with him: a massive budget, a jungle setting, and a lot of "smoldering" stares. But the Rock now 2025 is a different beast entirely. It’s like he woke up and realized that being the world's highest-paid movie star wasn't enough if people were starting to get bored of the formula.
He's making moves that actually feel risky. Honestly, it’s about time.
The Smashing Machine and the Oscar Buzz
If you told me two years ago that The Rock would be starring in an A24 movie directed by Benny Safdie, I would’ve laughed. But that’s exactly what happened with The Smashing Machine. It hit theaters in October 2025, and it’s basically the opposite of Red Notice. Johnson plays Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter who struggled with addiction and the brutal reality of the Octagon.
He looks... different. There are no CGI explosions.
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Critics at the Venice International Film Festival actually gave him a standing ovation. Think about that for a second. The guy from The Tooth Fairy won the Silver Lion for a dramatic performance. While the movie didn't exactly break the box office—it grossed about $21 million against a $50 million budget—it bought him something much more valuable: credibility. For the first time in forever, people are talking about his acting range instead of just his bicep circumference.
Is the WWE Final Boss Here to Stay?
The wrestling world is still buzzing about his "Final Boss" persona. If you've been following the drama, you know he returned to WWE in late 2024 and carried that momentum through 2025. This wasn't the "People's Champion" kissing babies. It was a suit-wearing, corporate-board-member version of The Rock who was genuinely mean.
It worked because it felt real.
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He’s currently a director on the TKO Board, so when he tells a wrestler he can fire them, he's not just playing a character. However, his Hollywood schedule is still the biggest hurdle. By late 2025, he was mostly absent from the ring to film his next big projects. There’s constant speculation about a match with Roman Reigns, but as of early 2026, he’s focused on the screen. He’s expected to have a presence as WWE moves its flagship show, RAW, over to Netflix, but don't expect him to be taking bumps every Monday night.
He’s 53 now. The joints don't bounce back like they used to.
The 2026 Pipeline: Moana and Beyond
Even though he's chasing "prestige" roles, he’s not leaving the Disney money on the table. He just wrapped the live-action Moana remake, which is set to drop in July 2026. He’s reprising his role as Maui, and apparently, he spent a full week just filming the "You’re Welcome" musical number.
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Here is what the rest of his immediate future looks like:
- Zootopia 2: He’s lending his voice to a character named Zeke, coming out late 2025/early 2026.
- Jumanji 3 (or 4): It’s still in the works. They can’t seem to let that franchise go, even though the stars’ schedules are a logistical nightmare.
- The Scorsese Project: There are heavy rumors that he’s starting a project with Martin Scorsese in early 2026. If that happens, the "action hero" version of the Rock might be gone for good.
Why the Pivot Matters
Most stars at his level just keep doing the same thing until the checks stop clearing. Look at the late-career moves of some other action legends; they usually fade into direct-to-video territory. Johnson seems hyper-aware of his "brand fatigue." After Black Adam failed to "change the hierarchy of power" in the DC Universe, he clearly went back to the drawing board.
He’s diversifying. He’s got Teremana Tequila, which is basically a license to print money. He’s got ZOA Energy. He’s got the UFL (United Football League). He doesn't need to do Fast & Furious movies anymore, which is probably why he’s being so selective.
Basically, the Rock now 2025 is a guy who realized that his legacy depends on more than just box office multipliers. He wants an Oscar. He wants to be respected as a "thespian" (his words, probably). And while he’s still the biggest promoter on the planet, the content he’s promoting is finally getting interesting again.
If you want to keep up with his transition from action star to serious actor, keep an eye on the 2026 awards circuit. The best way to track his progress is to watch The Smashing Machine on streaming—it’s the clearest indicator of where he’s heading. You should also follow the TKO quarterly earnings reports if you're interested in his business side, as that's where the real power moves are happening now.