WATCH: Dwayne Johnson Shares Precious Meeting With Young Fan
By Movieguide® Contributor
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is disproving the old adage, “Never meet your heroes.”
“They say ‘Never meet your heroes’…” the former WWE star posted on Instagram. “But that saying always bugged the heck outta me – because I’ve always felt if you’re a ‘celebrity’ of any caliber and you’re LUCKY enough to have some fame and influence – then be grateful for the position you’re in and be KIND and GOOD to people — ESPECIALLY OUR KIDS.”
He continued, “When I was a little boy, I finally met one of my heroes – Muhammad Ali ? – who was one of the most famous and influential men on earth – he was so sweet and kind to me. Put me on his lap, and talked to me as if I was the only kid in the world. That made a MASSIVE POSITIVE impression on me that I never forgot.”
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Johnson recently got the chance to make that same sort of impression on a young fan. The actor shared their interaction on Instagram.
“I appreciate you being a fan,” he said to a young boy named Marco, who was visibly emotional at getting to meet his hero. The pair hugged, and spoke about what Johnson was working on (the live-action MOANA), as well as Marco’s grades.
Johnson’s caption continued, “Marco – it’s great to meet you, shake your hand and give ya a hug. Keep up the great work in school and THANK YOU big man for being my biggest fan!!!”
The actor has previously spoken about the live-action MOANA, writing on Instagram, “Exciting and inspiring casting news as we begin to bring together our live action MOANA family.”
Johnson is also serving as a producer on the project, which will premiere July 10, 2026.
“MOANA will bring to life in a whole new way the story of a young woman eager to pave her own path,” a statement from Disney reads. “Celebrating the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a spectacular adventure, the production begins filming this summer.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Johnson’s new partnership with Disney:
Seven Bucks Production, funded by Dwayne Johnson and Danny Garcia, has signed a first-look deal with Disney allowing the company to increase its ties across all aspects of Disney’s business.
The deal will allow Johnson to more easily appear in future projects, while also giving him the opportunity to incorporate branded products and experiences through Disney’s entertainment offerings. The Jungle Cruise rides, for example, could be updated with Johnson’s character from the movie of the same name.
Johnson can also work with any of Disney’s subsidiaries, including Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and 20th Century/Searchlight, allowing him to feature in any number of theatrical and streaming movies or shows.
As for future content, Johnson was already set to return for MOANA 2, releasing this November, and a live-action MOANA in 2026, with plans for THE JUNGLE CRUISE 2 later down the line. He has also previously worked with Disney on 2007’s THE GAME PLAN and 2009’s RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN.
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