Join Us
Today, Dwayne Johnson is one of the most recognizable stars out there, but he also had to start somewhere. You’ll be surprised to know that Johnson’s journey to the big screen began with a role that barely gave him five minutes of screen time.
Johnson’s first major acting role came in 1999’s The Mummy Returns, where he played the Scorpion King alongside Brendan Fraser. In 2026, The Mummy 4 is back in production, but Dwayne Johnson hasn’t reprised his role. However, the debut movie has played an important role in his Hollywood career.
In October 2025, Dwayne Johnson appeared on the New Heights podcast and recalled how Fraser welcomed him into The Mummy franchise despite his lack of experience, making the experience memorable for him.
Trending
How Brendan Fraser Helped Dwayne Johnson Begin His Hollywood Career?
Before stepping into the Hollywood industry, Johnson was already an established name in the wrestling world as Rocky Maivia, and later adopted the name The Rock. Although Johnson didn’t have acting experience, he was already accustomed to performing before large audiences and working with cameras. But making the leap from professional wrestling to acting was quite a leap.
As Johnson recalled on the podcast, Brendan Fraser had every reason to question the decision to cast a professional wrestler who had no prior acting experience. The actor added, “He could have easily said, ‘I don’t want this wrestler.’”
But Fraser never made Johnson feel unwelcome. Instead, he embraced the newcomer and supported him. Johnson couldn’t help but express his gratitude by saying, “I love that man for that, and he helped kick off my career.”
Even though the screen time Dwayne Johnson received was hardly five minutes, once at the beginning and once at the end of the movie. No matter how small the role, Johnson was thrilled to be part of the project.
How Johnson & Fraser Continued To Support Each Other?
Although Johnson and Fraser have never shared the screen after The Mummy Returns, their friendship and mutual admiration have continued over the years. One example we got was in 2022, when Fraser received an emotional standing ovation for The Whale.
Johnson took the opportunity to publicly celebrate the moment and expressed how happy he was to see Fraser receive such appreciation. Besides, Johnson also wrote on X, “He supported me coming into his Mummy Returns franchise for my first ever role, which kicked off my Hollywood career. Rooting for all your success, brother.”
The appreciation has also been mutual. In September 2025, talking to PEOPLE, Fraser spoke about Johnson while discussing his wrestling biopic, The Smashing Machine. He said, “Dwayne, he’s a really great guy, and it’s gonna be exciting to watch him emerge from this.”
Even though their collaboration was brief, working together on The Mummy Returns gave them a lifelong friendship.
Advertisement
For more such stories, check out Hollywood News!
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Google News
