Thursday, October 11, 2018 8:24 AM
The Internet Is Turning Their Backs On Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson After He Cast Himself As This Black Icon
By: Vincent Tucker
Are you ready to smell what The Rock is cooking?
Let Black Twitter tell it... it’s a big fat NO after the recent news about the entertainer.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is adding yet another movie project to his resume as the Fast & Furious actor has signed on to star in his first ever Netflix film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Rock will star in and produce John Henry and the Statesmen that will re-team him with his Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle director Jake Kasdan.
The film is centered around a Black folklore legend named John Henry, who worked as a steel-driver in 1870 and died after racing against a steam machine.
Dwayne Johnson & ‘Jumanji’ Helmer Jake Kasdan Reteam For John Henry Family Action Movie Set At Netflix https://t.co/bMc2KvnqUr pic.twitter.com/yqrkuGUEWy
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 9, 2018
Johnson took to Instagram to announce the news along with a teaser from the film and explained why the movie was very special to him.
“Inspired to bring to life one of my childhood heroes,” Johnson wrote. “In this movie, I’ll lead an ensemble of the most popular folklore figures and legends from different cultures around the world. The legend of JOHN HENRY’S strength, endurance, dignity and cultural pride was instilled in my DNA at a very young age. … My dad would sing ‘Big John’ to me every time he would put me to bed.”
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to play Black folk hero John Henry in Netflix film https://t.co/r4begBkkLS pic.twitter.com/8SLCAFU3dr
— Shadow and Act (@shadowandact) October 9, 2018
Take a look at the video teaser announcement with the full caption, below:
WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND. Inspired to bring to life one of my childhood heroes, John Henry, in JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN. In this movie, I’ll lead an ensemble of the most popular folklore figures and legends from different cultures around the world. @NETFLIX is the perfect partner & platform to bring these global folklore icons to life. The NETFLIX brand speaks directly to our @sevenbucksprod ethos of being bold, ambitious and game changing - and most importantly, always thinking “Audience first” in homes all around the world. The legend of JOHN HENRY’S strength, endurance, dignity and cultural pride was instilled in my DNA at a very young age. My dad would sing “Big John” to me every time he would put me to bed. At bedtime most children get loving nursery rhyme songs — I got this/ Every mornin’ at the mine, you could see him arrive. He stood 6 foot 6 and weighed 245. Kind of broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip. And everybody knew you didn’t give no lip to Big John. Big John. Big Bad John. Directing this big ol’ tentpole is the talented and passionate, Jake Kasdan. Jake and I found nice success together in a little movie called, JUMANJI. Gonna be a lot of fun bringing these legends to life. My childhood hero. The steel driving man and his disruptive band of international folklore legends. JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN @sevenbucksprod @danygarciaco @hhgarcia41 @flynnpictureco @NETFLIX
Johnson, came under fire with the internet immediately after the announcement as people expressed their disappointment that the lite-skinned actor was playing a dark-skinned man, which Johnson obviously is not. The biracial actor has a Black father and a Samoan mother.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson cast himself as African American folk hero John Henry and we have two questions:
— The Root (@TheRoot) October 10, 2018
1) WHO told Dwayne to merge out of his lane?
2) Was Terry Crews busy? https://t.co/esnfJrZG8x pic.twitter.com/yFY7FcPyob
See how the Twitter community feels about his casting, below:
One fan commented: “Historically, John Henry’s always been depicted as having a *very* dark skin complexion and while Dwayne Johnson is undeniably a black man, this is all quite 🧐🧐🧐. I’m legitimately curious who the target audience for this movie is meant to be.”
Another commenter stated: “The dark skinned John Henry of Black folklore? (A double jab) Yeah that’s a no.”
A third social media user wrote: I can see it now. . . The Rock gonna give John Henry a white Latina love interest. 🙄
This person added: “*Pause* Please tell me the Rock is NOT playing my Dark-Skinned John Henry. Because that would be a problem.”
This fifth follower asserted: Is he playing John Henry? Like he's ready to claim his blackness for a minute because it's convenient?
And there’s more slander…
The dark skinned John Henry of Black folklore? (A double jab)
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) October 9, 2018
Yeah that’s a no https://t.co/l2tB9rKy3L
He gonna have a hard time not casting a Black Woman in this 🙄
— theproducer@TampaMegacon (@brothascomics) October 9, 2018
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson To Play Black Folk Hero John Henry In Netflix Film https://t.co/p427SUz6X5
Agreed! He'd make an excellent John Henry however, they are going for box office appeal and a bankable name. The Rock is one of the producers and they will bill this as "an American story" (read: universal) not a black fable. 😕 https://t.co/z5xeV2ylz5
— 👑Stephanie Victoria👑 (@CrownVictoria22) October 9, 2018
John Henry has always been depicted as dark-skinned but o k a y https://t.co/48Gq5KG9Vr
— Ira (@ira) October 9, 2018
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson just finished filming Disney’s Jungle Cruise and will soon start production on Jumanji 2 with Kevin Hart.
Him? Dwayne Johnson's casting as black folk legend John Henry causes backlash https://t.co/gau68ImP6N pic.twitter.com/0jQY9wpy60
— Shadow and Act (@shadowandact) October 10, 2018
What's your take on this?
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