Decades Before Reaching Mainstream Popularity, Dwayne Johnson Almost Made the Boldest Acting Choice of His Career, Only for Johnny Depp to Shatter His Dreams

Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Having done countless movies in his career, the Hollywood sensation has dominated the global box office on multiple occasions. Fans, however, have longed to see the quintessential action hero flex his thespian muscles.

But did you know studios considered The Rock for an iconic role? Moreover, legendary star Johnny Depp actually snatched the part from Johnson’s clutches?

What role did Johnny Depp snatch from Johnson?

Dwayne Johnson debuted in the role of the historic scorpion king in the 2001 movie, The Mummy Returns. The Hollywood star hasn’t looked back since as his stature increased exponentially.

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Johnson was surprisingly offered one of the biggest cult classics of all time. The role of the iconic character Willy Wonka got offered to The Rock. The character became immensely popular as Johnny Depp played the role in the 2005 movie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

According to a report by Cinema Blend, Johnson, even though wasn’t sure if the role went to him, probably didn’t regret the loss as he was still relatively new and lacked experience. This is astounding because Johnny Depp made the Willy Wonka character truly spectacular every step of the way.

While one can’t disregard the Scorpion King actor, as he would have added a unique flavor and element to the character and movie, it seems difficult to imagine anyone else filling the shoes of Willy Wonka apart from Johnny Depp.

However, professionally, a movie like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would have added a thespian role and a niche movie to his credit, who usually ventures into action potboilers. But that didn’t stop Johnson’s path to the top.

Dwayne Johnson ascended to marquee status seamlessly

Considering at the time Dwayne wasn’t a big draw, it’s certainly intriguing to see how would a movie like that work under Johnson’s brand value in 2023. The actor has become one of the richest entities in the world, with a net worth of $820 million.

Johnson, who found his groove in his initial years, finally arrived with Fast and the Furious 5, taking his stardom to another level.

Since then he hasn’t looked back and his movies at the box office have generated earth-shattering box-office revenue. After an underwhelming performance with Warner Bros Black Adam this year, Johnson now shifts his focus to Red One. The movie is an action-adventure, directed by Jake Kasdan. 

While the action hero didn’t bag the Tim Burton-directed classic, he still continues to weave his path into an unstoppable global megastar. What do you make of the news involving Johnson and the character of Willy Wonka? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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