Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson thanks the Australian crew working on his autobiographical TV show in Brisbane for being Covid-safe while filming
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has offered a special message of thanks to the Australian crew working on his autobiographical TV comedy, Young Rock.
The 48-year-old’s ‘formative years’ are being documented in the upcoming NBC series, which is being produced by Universal Television and filmed in Brisbane.
In a video shared to Instagram on Tuesday, the WWE wrestler-turned-actor said he was ‘super excited’ about the production of his ‘passion product’.
Grateful for all their efforts: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (pictured), 48, has offered a special message of ‘thanks’ to the Australians working on his autobiographical TV comedy, Young Rock, as filming continues in Brisbane, Queensland
Dwayne added that he was grateful for the team’s efforts to keep the production Covid-safe, after he and his family contracted coronavirus in September. (They have all since recovered.)
‘Production is so incredibly important and how we operate is so incredibly important and critical, which is why we are shooting Young Rock under the very strict Covid rules, health and safety regulations and parameters we put in place are second to none,’ the father of three said.
‘I want to thank everyone for complying and for being disciplined with us… we’re doing the best we can to manage and mitigate Covid.
‘Australia, thank you guys so much, and I can’t wait for you to see Young Rock.’
Dwayne also thanked Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher and directors Jeffrey Walker and Diana Reid for their involvement in the series about his ‘Forrest Gump-ian life’.
In a video on Instagram on Tuesday, the WWE wrestler-turned-actor (pictured) said he was ‘super excited’ about the production of his ‘passion product’ being underway in the Queensland city
‘It was a kick in the gut’: Dwayne (pictured with his two youngest daughters, Tiana and Jasmine) said he was grateful for the Australian team working hard to stay safe from the coronavirus on set, particularly after he and his family contracted the disease in September
‘It is a series, as many of you know by now, based on what I call my Forrest Gump-ian life growing up as a kid,’ the father of three (pictured as a young child) said in the video on Tuesday
‘To all of our local Australian cast and our local Australian crew, thank you guys,’ he said.
‘It is truly an honour to be working with such great local talent, as you guys are making this dream come true for us and as I speak for myself personally as well as my entire family… and everybody involved in helping bring this story of my life to life.
‘Sorry we couldn’t do the traditional ribbon cutting as we were all looking forward to but of course, under Covid conditions we had to take these different precautions.’
Spitting image: In October, the cast including Bradley Constant (left), who will depict the 48-year-old Jumanji actor at age 15 (right), was caught filming Young Rock on the streets of Brisbane
Early 20s: Set to portray Dwayne (right) during his days as a defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes in the early nineties is Marco Polo star Uli Latukefu (left)
While production for Young Rock has been predominately based at Screen Queensland Studios in the Brisbane suburb of Hemmant, some filming has taken place in Strathpine, Camp Hell, Scarborough, Wynnum and the Gold Coast.
In October, the cast including Bradley Constant, who will depict The Rock at age 15, were spotted filming the series in the streets of Brisbane.
Uli Latukefu will portray Dwayne during his days as a defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes in the early ’90s, and Adrian Groulx will play the Hollywood star at age 10.
Very young Rock: The youngest actor playing Dwayne is Adrian Groulx (left), who will play the Hollywood icon (right) at age 10