Dwayne Johnson recalls firing agents who doubted he ‘could be bigger’ than Will Smith or George Clooney
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Dwayne Johnson, who began his film career with 'The Scorpion King' in 2002, quickly rose to fame as the lead in family-oriented movies.
Yet, despite his growing success, he aspired to be more than just a familiar face in films—he wanted to have a career that rivaled Hollywood legends like Will Smith and George Clooney.
Dwayne Johnson’s bold career move
In the new GQ cover story, Dwayne Johnson reflects on that moment in his early career when he decided to set his sights higher.
"I could be bigger," he recalls thinking, inspired by the success of stars like George Clooney and Will Smith, but with a vision of taking his own path.
When Johnson first shared this ambition with his agents, they were skeptical. This lack of belief led Johnson to part ways with them, as he set out to find agents that would support his aspirations.
According to GQ, "He surveyed the landscape, noted who was at the top of it."
"And he went to his agents and said, despite whatever recent setbacks he’d experienced, he had an idea, or simply an ambition."
“He wanted to have the career of George Clooney or Will Smith. But bigger, perhaps, or better. When his agents seemed skeptical of this plan, he found new agents,” per GQ.
"That was the idea back then,” Johnson told GQ, admitting he did think he "could be bigger" than Clooney or Smith.
He added, "And I mean that respectfully. But also maybe do things differently, because there’s no blueprint, I feel like, for a guy like me, who looks like me. But I feel now looking back on the career......Bigger than Will, bigger than George? I think the declaration is just: different.”
Johnson’s determination eventually paid off.
Dwayne Johnson explains how right timing and strategy helped build his career
Today, Dwayne Johnson is not only one of the world’s most popular actors but also an influential producer.
His films have collectively grossed over $4.5 billion, demonstrating that his ambition to stand among Hollywood’s elite has been realized.
When asked how he built his success, he emphasized the importance of timing. For Johnson, success isn’t just about choosing the right projects but also the right release date.
“So the date is Christmas, X year,” he explained.
“Year and a half, two years before that: ‘There’s our date.’ Now here comes the film. Now we work backwards from there.”
"And I found myself doing that for years, actually. And it worked and it served me back then because it helped build my career."
This strategic approach allowed him to map out his career with precision, choosing projects that resonated with audiences.
Dwayne Johnson's 'audience first' philosophy leads to success
Dwayne Johnson’s approach centers on what he describes as an “audience first” mindset.
“I had this conceit and I idealized what my career should be,” he shared, explaining his philosophy: “Audience first. Let’s take care of the audience first.”
When selecting roles, he asks, “Does this have four-quadrant capability and opportunity? Are audiences going to like seeing me in this role?”
This commitment has fueled Johnson’s remarkable career, leading to hits like 'Moana', the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, and 'Jumanji'.
His latest venture, 'Red One', a holiday-themed action comedy, is set for release on November 15 through Amazon MGM Studios, promising fans fun and entertainment.
