Hollywood actor and former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has posted a picture of his younger self posing with the statue from the Rocky franchise. Johnson is one of the world's biggest stars, having been at the center of blockbuster films for over a decade, most recently in Disney's Jungle Cruise and Red Notice on Netflix. The actor is also set to star as the titular Black Adam as part of the DC Extended Universe next year.
Rocky followed the story of the titular boxer and his journey from being an unknown to the champion of the boxing world, with series star Sylvester Stallone featuring in the six films of the franchise, and reprising his role in the two Creed movies. The statue was commissioned for the filming of Rocky 3, being placed at the base of the stairs of Philadelphia's Museum of Art. The landmark is also known as the "Rocky Steps," which Stallone's character would run up in the original 1976 film. The statue and steps have since become a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the city.
Johnson posted a sweet throwback photo of his 13-year-old self posing with the statue, mirroring its pose. Johnson also included some advice he'd give to his past self, saying he tell the young Rock to "have fun" and "work hard." The colors of the banner behind Johnson indicate that the picture was taken at the Philadelphia Spectrum, a sports arena where the statue was moved to before returning to the Museum of Art full time in 2006. See Johnson's post below:
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It's interesting to see a young, not-yet-famous Johnson pose next to such an icon given his eventual bright future. Johnson, also a star of the Fast and Furious franchise, has made a career for himself as an imposing yet charismatic presence in large-scale blockbuster films. He's also flexed his acting abilities in smaller-scale projects such as Ballers on HBO and his autobiographical sitcom Young Rock on NBC, which depicts him growing up in Philadelphia, among other places. Johnson is also known for his philanthropy, having founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation which supports at-risk and terminally ill children.
It's easy to see how Johnson was inspired by Rocky, a movie that teaches the importance of hard work and self-worth, something that Johnson embodies in both his charity work and movie roles. Aside from a past Johnson, Rocky will continue to inspire young athletes everywhere, with its continuation through Creed 3 coming in 2022. One of the most recognizable and well-loved stars in Hollywood, Dwayne Johnson will also continue to produce high-concept films that showcase his charisma and presence, and fans wouldn't have it any other way.
Source: Dwayne Johnson