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The Rock’s takeover of Hollywood continues, and pro wrestling continues to take over our screens - and not just with a plethora of WWE and in-ring shows.
Variety broke the news this morning that Fox has ordered a pilot from Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions for a new sitcom based on his and Brian Gewirtz’s behind-the-scenes experiences at WWE. The third-generation Superstar and the television writer famously bonded while cutting their teeth working for Vince McMahon, and Gewirtz left the sports entertainment giant to work with Johnson last year.
The as-yet-unnamed pilot, co-produced with Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions, is described as “a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional professional wrestling outfit and chronicles the one-of-a-kind odd couple relationship that develops between a charismatic young character, like the The Rock, and a painfully awkward comedy writer new to the world of wrestling.”
Johnson said of the project:
This November will mark the 20th anniversary of my professional wrestling debut. I was 24 years old, putting in the hard work, making $40 bucks per match and had no clue of the long journey that lay ahead of me with characters and backstage stories so colorful you’d think there’s no way that can be true. The entertaining show that goes on in front of the crowd pales in comparison to the insanely entertaining show that goes on backstage. Brian and myself can’t wait to tell our stories.
And Gewirtz is quoted by Variety as saying:
Coming from Hollywood to the wrestling industry, with its intense backstage atmosphere and larger than life personalities, was a major culture shock. After working in the business for over 15 years, Dwayne and I had encounters and experiences that were unbelievable as well as unforgettable. We can’t wait to bring this project to the fans.
If it goes to series, this show will join Netflix’s G.L.O.W. as high-profile, fictitious behind-the-scenes comedies about wrestling.
It will also join HBO’s Ballers, his YouTube channel, the upcoming Disney film Moana, the Fast & Furious franchise and a bunch of stuff with Kevin Hart on Rocky’s resume/plan for global domination.
Sound good?