The Rock & The Auteur: A Crime Story Nobody Saw Coming
Let's be real—when you think Martin Scorsese crime epic, you don't think Dwayne Johnson, co-writer. Yet here we are. The man who once elbowed Vin Diesel in the Fast & Furious franchise is now elbow-deep in archival documents about Hawaii's first (and only) mob boss, Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa.
This isn't Goodfellas with palm trees. Johnson and Vanity Fair's Nick Bilton are crafting both a nonfiction book and the screenplay for Scorsese's film, digging into The Company—a 1960s-70s Hawaiian syndicate that operated like a tropical Cosa Nostra. “It's about power, identity, and what was taken from the Hawaiian people,” Johnson says. Translation? Expect The Irishman meets Moana—with more betrayals.
Why This Collab Actually Makes Sense
On paper, Johnson + Scorsese sounds like a studio exec's fever dream. But dig deeper:
- Johnson's roots: His Samoan heritage gives him skin in the game. This isn't just another role—it's ancestral reckoning.
- Scorsese's obsession: The man invented the modern mob movie. If anyone can turn Hawaiian organized crime into Shakespearean tragedy, it's him.
- DiCaprio's wildcard factor: Post-Killers of the Flower Moon, Leo's in full “historical trauma” mode. Will he play Pulawa? A fed? A conflicted enforcer? (Place your bets now.)
The Long Road to Production
Don't hold your breath for a trailer. The project's timeline:
- Finish the book (2025?)
- Polish the script (2026?)
- Shoot (2027?)
- Release (Maybe by the time GTA 7 drops).
The Big Question: Can Johnson Pull It Off?
The Rock's writing credits so far? Tooth Fairy 2 (kidding… mostly). But paired with Bilton—who broke the Theranos scandal—this could be his Ernest Hemingway in cargo shorts era. Or it could crash like Baywatch. Either way, it's the most fascinating Hollywood odd couple since… well, Scorsese and Marvel (RIP Silence).
If this works, it'll redefine Johnson's career. If it flops? At least we'll get a wild DiCaprio accent out of it.
