Summary
A newDwayne Johnsondeal with Disney will affect multiple aspects of his upcoming career and Disney’s streaming plan.The actor is known for his roles in majoraction films like Black Adamand endearing comedies like Disney’s 2007 filmThe Game Plan. Titles like these show the range of Johnson’s acting, which stays mainly within the blockbuster sphere while still containing a breadth of genres.
Throughout the years,Dwayne Johnson’s movies and careerhave also become closely associated with Disney. This year,their collaboration will include Johnson’s work onMoana 2, where he will reprise his role of the demigod Maui. Johnson originated this role in the firstMoanaback in 2016, charming audiences with the musical number “You’re Welcome.” But beyond the animated sequel, a recent news story revealed that Johnson’s relationship with Disney is about to get closer in a move that will have interesting ramifications on the actor’s career.
Moana 2is set for release on November 27.
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Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions Will Develop Theatrical & Streaming Movies For Disney
Dwayne Johnson Co-Created Seven Bucks Productions With Dany Garcia
This shift will come in the form of Johnson’s recently announced first-look deal with Disney.This deal was struck between The Walt Disney Company and Seven Bucks Productions, which is the film and TV content label that Dany Garcia and Johnson co-founded. The agreement to jointly develop content for theatrical and streaming releases is included in the deal.
While the specifics of that content have not yet been revealed, the deal may extend beyond just filmed content. The details are still being worked out, but thefirst-look deal may provide Seven Bucks Productions access to collaborate across all departments within Disney.This could include Disney parks and more, if the deal is as unrestrained as initial reports may indicate.
Dwayne Johnson’s Disney Deal Could Include Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, & More
Disney’s Brand Is Expansive
Given the breadth of areas that Disney now covers, Johnson’s deal with the company could be expansive. In addition to mainstream Disney films likeMoana,Johnson’s deal could include multiple franchises such as Marvel,Star Wars, and Pixar. Though he has played the superhero Black Adam, Johnson has never entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before. The deal between Seven Bucks Productions and Disney could allow Johnson to make his MCU debut, which seems especially possible given the MCU’s big content plans.
This deal is not contingent upon Johnson acting in every single collaboration between Seven Bucks Productions and Walt Disney.
Another important note about the deal is the fact that the agreement is not limited only to producing movies and television content. Disney also operates a wide variety of theme parks, merchandise, and more, all of which this plan can take advantage of. Walt Disney World in Florida already has aMoana-themed attraction, which is currently a walk-through experience called Journey of Water. The deal between Johnson and Disney could initiate the expansion of theMoanasection of Disney, or lead to additional rides based on other Johnson-related Disney content.
It is also important to note that this deal is not contingent upon Johnson acting in every single collaboration between Seven Bucks Productions and Walt Disney. In addition to acting in the film, Johnson also served as a producer onJungle Cruiseback in 2021. While Johnson rarely produces instead of starring in his movies,he could begin to explore these more overseeing roles as he embarks on this busy new deal with Disney and his production company.
Dwayne Johnson’s History With Disney Explained
Dwayne Johnson is Not New to Disney
While the deal between Seven Bucks Productions and Disney will strengthen the relationship between Johnson and Disney, the actor already has an existing relationship with the studio.The first film he made with Disney wasThe Game Planback in 2007. In this film, Johnson plays football player Joe Kingman, whose life is rattled when he learns that he has an eight-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Johnson is equal parts endearing and amusing in this role, as he struggles with new fatherhood.
After Johnson’s strong introduction to Disney withThe Game Plan,he played Jack Bruno inRace to Witch Mountainin 2009. The family-friendly adventure film tells the story of a U.F.O. expert who has to protect two teenage siblings with magical powers from a malicious group that wants to exploit them.Race to Witch Mountainwas a box office disappointment, grossing $106.3 million off of an estimated $65 million budget.
Johnson took ahiatus from Disney for a while afterRace to Witch Mountain. Seven years later, he re-entered the Disney scene withMoanain 2016, which was the actor’s first voice-acting role for Disney. Five years later, Johnson went on to makeJungle Cruise, a film based directly on the Disney Theme Park ride of the same name.
In addition to this history with Disney,Johnson already had a couple of projects set up before this deal. This includes the animated sequelMoana 2, which returns audiences to Motunui on November 27. Continuing in that universe, Johnson will also play Maui in thelive-action remake of the 2016 filmMoana, which is slated to hit theaters in July 2026.
New Disney Movies That Dwayne Johnson Could Make Now
The Expanding Moana Universe Seems More Likely
With the deal between Seven Bucks Productions and Disney, Johnson’s Disney film slate is about to get a lot busier. Several potential titles could be included in this upcoming filmography, but the most likely candidates seem to be expansions of theMoanauniverse.Disney was originally planning to adaptMoanainto an animated TV seriesfor Disney+, but pivoted into makingMoana 2. Plans for a TV show suggest, however, that theMoanauniverse still has room to expand, making the creation ofMoana 3seem more likely.
Alive-action version ofMoana 2also seems like a distinct possibility, especially given the first live-actionMoana’s commitment to using Johnson as its star. With the live-actionMoanaarriving fewer than two years afterMoana 2’s release this year, Disney is unafraid to lean into theMoana universe. The production company is also apt to make live-action adaptations of copious animated films, includingCinderella,Aladdin, andThe Little Mermaid. Between these Disney patterns and the newfound relationship with Johnson, the potential for a live-actionMoana 2increases.
The final film that seems likely post-Disney deal isJungle Cruise 2. The firstJungle Cruisemade $220.8 million in 2021, a time wherein movie theaters were still facing post-COVID recovery, and it was hard to get people back into theaters. This total suggests the growth potential for the franchise, which can be further explored with the first-look deal. As news of the Seven Bucks Productions and Disney deal develops, it will be fascinating to see whatDwayneJohnsonDisney projects come down the pike.
