CNBC
Can you smell what Netflix is cooking?!
Recently, Netflix won the rights to an upcoming project featuring one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. An action film called John Henry and the Statesmen will feature Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, and an ensemble cast of popular figures from folklore and legend. The family-friendly movie will reunite Johnson with Jake Kasdan, director of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
The film’s creators hope that the project, which was written by The Lego Ninjago Movie‘s Tom Wheeler, will grow into a new franchise on the streaming service.
No matter how many movies come afterwards, Netflix got a good one in The Rock. Not only does his name drive people to the theater, but his presence helps films succeed internationally. This global appeal is ideal for Netflix, which has more than half of its audience living overseas. Name recognition plays a huge role in a film’s success on the Netflix platform, since getting someone to watch a movie in their living room is easier than getting them to leave their house and buy a ticket.
But fear not, The Rock fans: Johnson isn’t shying away from the big screen any time soon. He recently finished production on Disney’s Jungle Cruise film, based on the theme park ride, and he’s currently filming Fast and Furious spinoff film Hobbs and Shaw for Universal. Oh, and there’s Sony’s sequel to Jumanji that we are all can’t wait for.
Johnson has worked with Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Sony, Fox, and Paramount during his time in Hollywood. Netflix is now a part of that club.
