The Rock is probably one of the last actors you would expect to star in a Martin Scorsese film, especially as the lead man, but according to Deadline it is 100% happening, and will also feature Leo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt in supporting roles.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will star as a ‘ruthless Hawaiian crime boss’, based on a real-life person, who battles encroaching rivals for control of the organised crime world in Hawaii in the 60s and 70s.

Apparently it was The Rock and Emily Blunt, who have worked together before, who pitched the idea for the movie to Scorsese and DiCaprio. Of course, the plot is right up Scorsese’s alley, but it’s still surprising/exciting that he cast Dwayne Johnson in the lead role.

I mean, The Rock totally looks like a Hawaiian crime boss, but has he got the acting chops to pull it off? Some might even say Dwayne Johnson has no business working alongside Scorsese and DiCaprio as they have a completely different catalogue of movies on their CVs. The Rock is an entertainer who makes big budget action films that don’t have a lot of depth (which is fine – we need those movie too). Whereas Scorsese and Leo are more ‘artists’ who make proper films that satisfy viewers beyond a superficial level.

However, in fairness to The Rock, he’s never actually been in a movie that demands he shows off his true acting ability. OK, there were some serious moments in ‘Ballers’ where he did a decent job, and he’s just finished shooting Mark Kerr-biographical ‘The Smashing Machine’ (alongside Emily Blunt) which is set for release late this year. Maybe Scorsese caught a secret screening of that and saw something in  The Rock that the rest of us haven’t yet?

At the end of the day, if anyone can bring the actor out of Dwayne Johnson, it’s Martin Scorsese. The guy simply cannot make a bad movie! Well, aside from Killer Moon and The Irishman which weren’t bad, just incredibly long.

If this next one delivers, it could cement Dwayne Johnson as a certified, respected, big time actor rather than just a guy that jumps out of crumbling skyscrapers and beats up bad guys or whatever. Come on Rocky! We’re rooting for you.

For the time The Rock bought UFC star Themba Gorimbo a house so he couldn’t have to sleep in the gym anymore, click HERE. What a nice guy.