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Rumor: Dwayne Johnson is NOT McG's Captain Nemo!

by Alex Billington
May 4, 2009
Source: Moviehole

I know that this rumor first popped up over the weekend, and we're very late in bringing it up, but it's worth mentioning. The dust has settled a bit and no one has disproved it yet, so I'll take that as a good sign. Moviehole is reporting (via Production Weekly) that Dwayne Johnson has been cast in Disney's re-imagining of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that McG is set to direct. Well, not officially cast in it yet, but his name has been appearing attached to the production, and everyone is taking that as a hint that Johnson might be playing Captain Nemo - the same role that McG once wanted Will Smith to star in.

I don't about you guys, but Dwayne Johnson wouldn't be my top choice for Captain Nemo. I'd prefer someone a bit more gritty, like Christian Bale (but they can't use him for everything) or Iron Man's Faran Tahir. Not that I don't like Johnson, I just think he's better suited for more family-oriented roles - which is what this may be in the end. In fact, I think he'd be better off starring in Jonny Quest more than he would starring in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. But then again, who knows if McG will actually direct this (or Terminator 5) next and if Disney will still see it all the way through. Who would be a good Nemo?

Update: Well that didn't take too long. SciFi Wire talked with McG today and got confirmation that Dwayne Johnson is not involved. "I've never spoken to Dwayne Johnson. You can be the first to report that I have no idea where that came from. I wish him every success, but I never spoke to Dwayne about this," McG said. He still claims he's going after Will Smith for the lead role. Should we believe him this time?

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Related categories: Casting, Opinions, Rumors

Trey

This could be really good or horribly bad...
Timothy

NO!!!!
Greedo the Rodian

Can you smell what the Rock is harpooning?
Dan W

Atleast Will Smith can act. The rock can only act when hes asking a crowd of idiots if they can smell what he's cooking. Which the only answer is bad movies.
Kenneth Van Castle

I think Will Smith is a bad choice for Captain Nemo. The fact that he wants to do the film with Will Smith just says that McG is only truly talented when it comes to Terminator. Any movies before Terminator Salvation have been eh ugh, and this sounds like it's headed down that road. I have no qualms against Will Smith, but the man is NOT CAPTAIN NEMO. I think McG should consider another project altogether. Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea needs a new director, a new actor, and a completely different approach.
Greedo the Rodian

Nowadays, I don't think you should trot out an inexperienced director to do an ocean adventure pic. Traditionally, filming on water has resulted in the biggest budgets in movies, most of them have gone over budget. For every Titanic and Pirates of the Caribbean and Jaws, there's a Waterworld and Cutthroat Island. But I imagine most of this can be CGI'd/done in a studio with fake ocean spray. Will Smith, upon meeting the giant squid, will go "Ahhhhh, hell no." "Welcome to Earth!"