Megan Fox, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Andy Garcia join the fourth entry in the ‘Expendables’ franchise, in theaters Sept. 22

Jason Statham and Megan Fox are turning up the heat in Expend4bles.

On Thursday, Lionsgate shared a clip from the latest entry in the Expendables franchise exclusively with PEOPLE. The scene shows Fox, 37, as she joins the franchise as Gina with a steamy introduction alongside returning star Statham, 56, as Lee Christmas.

In the clip, Lee tells Gina he wants to join her on a mission she is embarking on. When Gina tells him he is not invited, Lee asks if she will miss him while she’s away.

“No. There’s lots of other boys on the mission,” she says, leading Lee to try and walk away with a document of hers. After Gina says she is “not in the mood,” Lee offers to play a Jimi Hendrix song and grabs her, initiating some choreography that falls somewhere between a fight and foreplay.

Statham and Fox’s characters wrestle around their home and trade verbal barbs at each other, eventually crashing through two double doors and into a bathroom.

Megan Fox and Jason Statham Get Steamy in Action-Packed ‘Expend4bles’ Trailer

 

LIONSGATE

Statham’s character winds up on top, but when he notices some lingerie hanging from another door, he suggests the two take their evening to a more romantic place.

Fox joins the fourth Expendables movie along with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Andy Garcia. Series favorites Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Sylvester Stallone return for the new movie, which pits the crew against a new villain, portrayed by Iko Uwais.

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Megan Fox and Jason Statham in ‘Expend4bles’.LIONSGATE

“Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table,” reads a synopsis for the film.

“But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give ‘new blood’ a whole new meaning.”

Tony Jaa, Jacob Scipio and Levy Tran also star in the movie. A trailer for the film released in June teased 77-year-old Stallone’s character Barney Ross recruiting Lee for yet another world-saving adventure.

Expend4bles is in theaters Sept. 22.

It seems that Sylvester Stallone’s lack of involvement in The Expend4bles was noticeable on set as much as in the final movie.

Lionsgate

Warning: This articles includes spoilers for The Expend4bles.

SUMMARY

 Sylvester Stallone’s limited involvement in The Expend4bles is questioned, with critics citing it as a reason for the film’s poor performance and low box office numbers.
 The absence of Stallone on set doesn’t feel right to Jason Statham, who believes the best days are when Stallone is present.
 The lack of Stallone’s involvement seems to have had an impact on both the final product and the morale of the other cast members, potentially leading to the downfall of the franchise.

Sylvester Stallone has been the driving force behind The Expendables franchise – from its original selling point of bringing together the biggest names in action movie history, to being the screenwriter on the first three movies and directing the original film way back in 2010. If the old guard seemed a bit past it in their first outing, then the biggest wonder is perhaps how they made it to a fourth installment 13 years later. Perhaps that is partly why Stallone felt this time around he would only have a limited role to play, and according to Jason Statham that just didn’t feel right.

The Expend4bles is currently dragging the franchise through the mud, over rocky ground and any other metaphor you can think of, with a catastrophic 16% Rotten Tomatoes score and a box office that is barely scraping into double figures. How much of that is down to the lack of involvement by Stallone is questionable, but one thing for certain is that the man who the Rocky star put in charge of the movie this time around has his own feelings on the matter. Speaking candidly to Cinema Express, Jason Statham shared his thoughts about Stallone’s absence from most of the movie. He said:
“In this particular story, he is absent for reasons we don’t talk about, we have to guide ourselves through the ocean without him. There is something about not having him around that doesn’t feel right. So, we are getting through, the story is the story, we are trying to do our best, but the best days are when he is on set.”

Stallone Makes The Expendables Work.

Lionsgate 

The old adage of “if it ain’t broke” is one that seems to ring true of The Expend4bles current predicament. While The Expendables movies have always had their fair share of brutal reviews from those who are more interesting in an intellectual movie that just watching things being blown up, none have been as badly received as this fourth outing. The one big difference this time? A limited screen time from Stallone, and no involvement from him in either the story, screenplay or behind the camera.

Although one man cannot be held responsible for the success of an entire movie, in this case it certainly does seem to have had an impact, not only with the final product, but clearly with the other cast members as well. Although there is a reason for Stallone’s early departure from proceedings – which involves his character of Barney Ross faking his own death only to return in the movie’s finale – the reported “creative differences” that saw Stallone originally duck out of the movie and then return in his limited capacity looks to have been the undoing of this action blockbuster.

Whether there will be another outing for The Expendables in the future, as Stallone has already confirmed he will not be back for more, seems to be reliant on the performance of The Expend4bles. With a reported budget north of $100 million to recoup, and just $10 million taken in its opening weekend, this could end up being the swan song of the franchise rather than just Stallone’s Barney Ross.

Jason Statham has been kicking butts and taking names on the big screen for nearly two decades. Before he became an actor, Statham was a martial arts practitioner, accomplished diver (he competed for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games), and a high-profile sports model. His physical prowess and no-nonsense attitude paved the way for his Hollywood debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, which he followed up with another Ritchie team-up for the 2000 crime flick, Snatch.

Statham has gone on to solidify his staying power as an action-centric A-lister by becoming a Hollywood franchise magnet. From taking down hosts of baddies in The Transporter series to, well, also taking down hosts of baddies in The Expendables movies, Statham has demonstrated his chops as an action hero time and time again. Despite his proven abilities on the big screen, not every role was meant to be for Statham. Here are 10 movie roles that Jason Statham turned down or didn’t get.

Desolation Williams – Ghosts of Mars (2001)

 

Written and directed by John Carpenter, Ghosts of Mars is about a convicted criminal named James “Desolation” Williams, who teams up with a police squad to fight the possessed citizens of a mining planet. Given Statham’s early credibility as a charming antihero in his two early outings with Ritchie, he was initially considered for the part of Williams.

Ultimately, the film’s producers wanted an actor with a little more star power, so they chose former N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube for the role, who had already starred in Boyz in the Hood, Anaconda, and two Friday movies by this point. Statham, who must’ve still made quite an impression during his audition, was instead cast as Sergeant Jericho Butler in what would become his first foray into the action genre.

Private Cooper – Dog Soldiers (2002)

While it didn’t do gangbusters at the box office, the soliders-versus-werewolves flick Dog Soldiers became somewhat of a cult classic and was praised by critics and audience members for its fun take on the action horror genre. Statham was initially pegged for the role of Private Cooper, but he pulled out after getting the Ghosts of Mars gig and was eventually replaced by Kevin McKidd. In a 2020 interview with Den of Geek, Dog Soldiers writer and director Neil Marshall discussed why he had been interested in bringing Statham aboard.

“I’d seen him in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and I thought this guy’s got real charisma, he’s going to be a star, he’d be great for Cooper,” Marshall said.

When Statham eventually got offered the Ghosts of Mars role, Marshall ultimately gave Statham his blessing, saying, “You’ve got a chance to go and work with John Carpenter. Go and work with John Carpenter.” Statham followed Marshall’s advice, and went on to become an action icon.

Agent 47 – Hitman (2007)

Jason Statham may have vied for the main role in Hitman, but it was ultimately Timothy Olyphant who brought the video game assassin known as Agent 47 to the big screen. As it turns out, Statham’s future Fast & Furious co-star (and Hitman executive producer) Vin Diesel was initially cast in the role, but he dropped out to star in the Mathieu Kassovitz-directed sci-fi movie Babylon A.D.

Hitman was universally panned by critics, and even Olyphant himself, who was replaced by Rupert Friend in the 2015 sequel Hitman: Agent 47. So, maybe it was for the best that Statham lost out on the role.

Thomas Shelby – Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

It’s hard to imagine anyone else besides Cillian Murphy playing gang leader Thomas Shelby in the BAFTA-winning crime drama series Peaky Blinders. But, showrunner Steven Knight actually nearly cast Jason Statham in the role.

After meeting both actors in Los Angeles, Knight had initially wanted to go with Statham over Murphy, preferring Statham’s edgier appearance. Murphy wasn’t ready to lay down without a fight, though, and he pleaded his case by sending these four words to Knight via text: “Remember, I’m an actor.” The future Oppenheimer star had already proven his ability to take on transformative roles, and Knight eventually saw his point. The rest, as they say, is history.

Owen Shaw – Fast & Furious Franchise (2013-2017)

With two cameos and four major roles in the Fast & Furious franchise and the co-lead role in the Hobbs and Shaw spin-off, Jason Statham has become a mainstay in the series as ex-M16-turned-mercenary Deckard Shaw. Interestingly enough, Statham almost made his debut in the F&F franchise as Owen Shaw, Deckard’s villainous younger brother.

Owen Shaw first appears on-screen in Fast & Furious 6 as the leader of a group of mercenaries bent on stealing high-tech devices to sell on the black market. While Statham and Dr. Who star David Tennant were initially considered for the role, Welsh actor Luke Evans eventually scored the part and turned in one of his best performances. Evans reprised Owen Shaw via cameo roles in Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious, while Statham made his first F&F appearance through a cameo of his own, appearing in an end-credits scene in the sixth installment as Owen’s vengeful kin.

Frank Martin – The Transporter Refueled (2015)

Despite seeing massive success as Frank Martin in the first three Transporter films, Jason Statham ended up backing out of the lead role in The Transporter Refueled. Statham’s refusal to sign on to the fourth film ultimately came down to a business decision, as producers wanted him to sign on for three additional Transporter films and allegedly offered him significantly less money.

Ed Skrein, most known for his role as supervillain Ajax in Daredevil, took over where Statham left off and donned Frank Martin’s stylish suit. Unfortunately, the creative change didn’t do The Transporter Refueled any favors, as it was the most critically-panned installment in the franchise.

Captain Britain – Captain America: Civil War (2016)

When Marvel approached Jason Statham to play the role of Captain Britain in Captain America: Civil War, he apparently wasn’t quite so eager to jump into the MCU. In fact, he allegedly laughed off the idea of playing the United Kingdom’s Steve Rogers counterpart.

According to Statham, it all came down to age. He was 47 at the time and thought that Marvel should go for someone at least 15 years younger. The powers that be ultimately scrapped the idea of introducing Captain Britain, but this wouldn’t be the last time that Statham would be considered for an MCU role.

Bullseye – Daredevil (2018)

Jason Statham’s bald head and intense demeanor may have been top of mind for Marvel Television execs when they reportedly courted him to play sadistic sharpshooter Bullseye for season two of Netflix’s Daredevil back in 2015. Rumored or not, any negotiations likely came to a halt after Statham lambasted Marvel movies in an interview that same year.

“I could take my grandma, and put her in a cape and then put her in a green screen and then have stunt doubles come in and do all the action — anybody can do it,” Statham told Italian site I 400 Calci. “They’re relying on stunt doubles and green screen and $200 million budget. It’s all CGI-created. To me, that is not authentic.”

Marvel held off on introducing Bullseye to the Daredevil series until season three, when Wilson Bethel joined the cast as Benjamin “Dex” Pointdexter, a psychopathic FBI agent who serves as a composite character of Bullseye and the supervillain, Nuke.

SAS Commander Randolph – Daisy Scarlett: Semper Occultus

Way back in 2004, Kate Beckinsale was in talks to play a super spy in the vein of Jason Bourne and James Bond in a movie tentatively titled Daisy Scarlett: Semper Occultus. Riding high from the early success of the Underworld franchise, Beckinsale had prime cache as a damage-dealing action star. Fellow ass-kickers Jason Statham and Jet Li were also attached to the film, with initial reports claiming that Statham would be playing a character named SAS Commander Randolph.

Unfortunately, Daisy Scarlett was never made. Despite the film’s disappointing fate, 2004 was still a solid year for Statham, as he played a bit part in the Oscar-nominated Collateral and made his first villainous turn as a kidnapper in the action thriller Cellular.

Unknown Marvel Movie

Even after the previously failed negotiations with Statham, Marvel never gave up hope on his potential casting. While promoting Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that Statham had again been considered for an MCU role. While Feige didn’t mention the particular movie or role, he noted that Statham had scheduling conflicts, and despite his earlier comments disparaging Marvel movies, the actor seemed interested in another shot.

“I was in another meeting a few days later, and my cellphone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it. And it was Jason Statham,” Feige recalled. “He was saying, ‘Sorry it didn’t work out, maybe next time.’ He couldn’t have been nicer!”

Could we eventually see Jason Statham join the MCU?According to a 2022 rumor, he already has signed on and may be lined up to play superhero Union Jack in Captain America 4.

Dwayne Johnson has reportedly donated a “seven-figure” amount to The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) amid the actors union’s strike.

Soon after the SAG-AFTRA leadership declared the union was going on strike, president Courtney B Vance and executive director Cyd Wilson sent out a letter to the union’s highest-earning actors.

In the letter, Wilson and Vance highlighted the financial difficulty many people would face due to work stoppage during the strike.

 

“We rely on donations and grants to provide services – we have been very fortunate that we raised enough money to be able to cover all of our programs,” Wilson told Variety.

“But when we hit a crisis like this and we’re going to spend millions and millions of dollars in financial assistance, this is when we need our high profile talent who can afford it, who are in a situation to help others.”

Wilson revealed that shortly after she and Vance sent out the letter, Johnson responded saying he wanted to help.

“It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it’,” Vance said. “This is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a huge message to other folks to do the same thing.”

The exact amount of Johnson’s donation hasn’t been revealed, however, a representative told HuffPost that the sum is a “seven-figure” amount.

Wilson also told Variety that Johnson’s donation will likely help 7,000 to 10,000 members through the union’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program.

“It is a call to arms for all of us to know that we just have to step up however you can,” Vance said. “Dwayne is letting everyone know, ‘I’m here. What are you going to do?’”

The Independent has contacted Johnson’s representatives for comment.

This month marked a historic shutdown for Hollywood as the actors’ guild members joined writers striking for a fairer deal. SAG-AFTRA’s strike comprising 150,000 television and movie actors began at midnight on 13 July.

Meanwhile, members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been on strike since May.

This is the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have picketed film and television production companies.

Dwayne Johnson fans stunned after actor crashes celebrity bus tour

 

It’s not the first time the WWE star has pulled up on unsuspecting fans

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised fans on a celebrity homes tour for the second time in a month.

On Instagram on Monday (25 September), the actor and WWE star, 51, filmed himself pulling up alongside a tour bus in Los Angeles. Numerous companies drive tourists around Beverly Hills and other affluent areas in the city, visiting the homes of famous inhabitants.

“Hey, you guys know where I can find The Rock?” he asks the bus riders who immediately gasp and begin filming on their phones.

After some fist-bumping and interacting, Johnson asks: “Alright, I got to ask, did he take you to my house yet?”

“Not yet,” one of the tourists answers.

“Alright good, keep it that way,” the star responds prompting laughter from the group.

He captioned his post: “Hey I just wanna see the Rock [laughing crying face]. If you Hollywood visitors ever see a big ol’ pick up truck rolling up on your tour bus – don’t be afraid, it’s just the People’s Champ lookin’ for free tacos and having fun.

“Enjoy my hood and stay away from my house.”

He added: “This kinda stuff is always the best part of fame ~ lots of happy faces.”

The Jumanji star posted a similar video on his account just weeks ago. In a video posted on 5 September, Johnson pulled up alongside another tour bus and snapped selfies with fans.

“I’m like a big kid, I get so much joy outta these ‘holy s***’ moments and seeing my people’s faces,” he wrote in the caption that time.

Back in November 2021, the Red Notice star presented tourists with a set of gifts that included a free Netflix subscription, his self-branded energy drinks and Tequila, an Xbox console and TV, as well as $500 (£370) cash.

Throughout his career, Johnson has been known to use his celebrity status to inspire others and give back to those who have helped him along the way. Most recently, he launched a relief fund alongside Oprah Winfrey to aid local residents affected by the Lahaina wildfires that devastated large sections of Maui, Hawaii.

He also donated a “record” seven-figure amount to the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) amid the actors union’s strike. Last month, Johnson gifted UFC prospect Themba Gorimbo a house after learning that the Zimbabwean fighter had just $7 in his bank account.

From inspiring others on social media to surprising his biggest fans, The Rock has become known as one of the nicest men in Hollywood

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had a longstanding career in the entertainment industry, from his start as a pro wrestler to becoming one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. The Black Adam star also has another title under his belt – and no, it’s not the WWE Championship belt, of which he’s won 10. It’s Oscars presenter.

Ahead of the 95th annual Academy Awards, which takes place on Sunday 12 March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts announced Johnson among its list of awards presenters this year. But from starring in blockbuster films like Jumanji and Moana, to being a supportive girl dad to his three daughters, it’s amazing Johnson even has time to attend the 2023 Oscars.

Throughout his career, the 50-year-old actor has used his celebrity status to inspire others and give back to those who have helped him along the way. Whether its sharing encouraging messages on social media or surprising his biggest fans, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has become known as one of the nicest men in Hollywood.

Here’s some of his best moments.

When he surprised his mother Ata with a new home

 

Throughout it all, Johnson’s mother Ata has stood by his side. To thank his mother for everything she’s done, the father of three surprised her last June by buying her a home.

In a clip shared to Instagram, the actor filmed his 73-year-old mother as she stepped inside her new home for the first time. The Hawaii native was seen covering her mouth as her eyes welled up with tears.

Johnson explained in his caption why the moment was so important to him. “Love you mom and surprise!” he wrote. “When I was a little boy, I hated when my mom would cry ~ these days, I’ll happily take her tears of joy.

“I surprised my mom and bought her a new home. Took me and my design team eight weeks to get it ready, where she could walk through her front door for the very first time and everything she saw was brand new and a total surprise.”

He continued: “I’ve been lucky enough to have bought her a few homes over the years, but this one is special as she’s told me over and over these past few years, ‘After a lifetime of travelling, I want this home to be my last. That’s my dream.’”

“Mom, there’s no greater feeling than to make you happy ~ welcome home.”

In a second post, Johnson explained that he’d “unearthed” pictures of their ancestors that his mother “hasn’t seen since she was a child growing up in Samoa” and had put them on the wall along with her vintage ukuleles.

Ata sobbed as she walked around the room, pointing to the pictures.

“Thank you God for blessing me with a little bit of work ethic to make stuff like this happen,” he added. “Enjoy your new home mom!!”

When he made Adele’s dreams come true

Adele may be a 16-time Grammy Award winner, but she was just like all of us when she was left speechless after The Rock surprised her at the 2023 Grammys. During the awards ceremony last month, host Trevor Noah kicked off his opening monologue by running through a list of all the famous faces at the event, including Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and Adele.

“This is one of the strangest things I found out,” Noah said. “The person that Adele has always wanted to meet, but never has, is Dwayne Johnson.”

“I found out that he’s a huge fan of yours too,” he added as Adele watched from the crowd. “I don’t have Dwayne Johnson here tonight, but I do have someone called The Rock.”

The wrestler-turned-actor then came up behind the “Easy On Me” singer, who burst into laughter as the two finally hugged.

Speaking with Variety after the ceremony, Johnson shared that “we wanted to do something special for Adele”.

“I know that she is a very big fan of mine and has made that clear publicly many times. But I’ve got to tell you, I am a huge fan of hers, as well – her music, her journey, her openness and directness in how she speaks. I’ve always admired that about her,” he said.

“We were trying to figure out something to do that was going to be fun and surprise her, and we had kicked around ideas all week,” Johnson explained.

“The key to a surprise like that is to actually keep it a surprise. Myself and the Grammys went to great lengths to make sure that Adele was authentically surprised in the moment, and she was.”

“It was just a great surprise and I was able to chat with her a little bit and her boyfriend, Rich Paul,” he continued. “And talk about the universe meeting our friendship halfway: I get up onstage and I open that Grammy envelope and it said ‘Adele.’ So that’s why I was able to say, ‘Get up here best friend, Adele!’”

When he bought every Snickers bar from the local store he used to steal from

The actor, who lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, during his childhood, would apparently steal many a chocolate bar from his local 7-Eleven store. In September, Johnson decided to right his wrongs by purchasing every Snickers bar from the convenience store.

“I have been waiting decades to do what I’ve been getting ready to do now,” the actor said in a video posted to Instagram. “When I was 14 years old, every day I used to stop here at this 7-Eleven and steal a king-sized Snicker bar because I couldn’t afford to buy one.

“That was my pre-workout food. I did that for almost a year every day. I had to come back and buy every Snickers bar on those shelves,” he continued.

The Rock then cleared the shelf of all the Snickers bars before bringing them to the cashier, who counted up all the bars of chocolate for a total of $298. As stunned fans and customers looked on, the actor told the worker how he used to steal Snickers bars when he was growing up. He then offered to pay for the groceries of all the customers in the store, and left the bag of chocolate at the front of the store for others to take for themselves, free of charge.

“After decades of me wanting to come back home to 7-Eleven and try and make good, that felt really, really good,” he said while smiling at the camera.

In his caption, the former wrestler added: “We can’t change the past and some of the dumb stuff we may have done, but every once in a while we can add a little redeeming grace note to that situation – and maybe put a big smile on some strangers’ faces.”

When he honoured service men and women with the “Rock the Troops” event

In December 2016, Johnson hosted the inaugural “Rock the Troops” event in Hawaii to honour American troops and the 50,000 members of the military and their families who were able to attend the show.

The Rock performs onstage during Spike’s “Rock the Troops” event

(Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Spike)

The star-studded event was hosted by Johnson, who comes from a military family, and was filled with appearances by Jack Black, Keegan Michael-Key, Terry Crews and Kevin Hart. It was filmed at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii in honour of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was broadcasted on the Spike network.

When he set aside his political aspirations for his family

Despite being both an actor and a former WWE wrestler, Johnson has also spoken about a potential career in politics. Following the 2016 presidential election, which saw Donald Trump elected as the 45th US president, The Rock teased that he was “seriously” considering a political career.

Back in 2017, he also said there was a “real possibility” he would run for president. “A year ago, it started coming up more and more,” Johnson told GQ at the time. “There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think ‘Let me really rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful.’”

In the past, Johnson, who is registered Independent, spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2000 and attended the Democratic National Convention the same year. In 2020, he endorsed Joe Biden for president.

Then in April 2021, The Rock responded to a poll showing 46 per cent of people wanted him to run for president. In an Instagram post, Johnson shared an article featuring the quote: “At least 46 per cent of Americans would support a presidential run from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson”.

“Humbling,” he wrote. “I don’t think our Founding Fathers EVER envisioned a six-four, bald, tattooed, half-Black, half-Samoan, tequila drinking, pick up truck driving, fanny pack wearing guy joining their club – but if it ever happens it’d be my honour to serve you, the people.”

Addressing rumours of a presidential run, the star confirmed that he would be keen to go into politics if that is what the public wanted. “I would consider a presidential run in the future if that’s what the people wanted,” he told USA Today in 2021. “Truly I mean that, and I’m not flippant in any way with my answer. That would be up to the people … So I would wait, and I would listen. I would have my finger on the pulse, my ear to the ground.”

However, The Rock has since set aside his political aspirations to be a present father for his three daughters – Simone Johnson, 21, who he shares with ex-wife Dany Garcia, as well as Jasmine Johnson, seven, and Tiana Johnson, four, who he shares with wife Lauren Hashian.

Last October, the Game Plan star said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that he’s ruled out a presidential bid in order to put his family first. “It’s off the table,” he told CBS correspondent Tracy Smith.

“I will say this, ‘cause it requires a B side to this: I love our country and everyone in it,” he continued. “I also love being a daddy. And that’s the most important thing to me, is being a daddy, number one, especially during this time, this critical time in my daughters’ lives. ‘Cause I know what it was like to be on the road and be so busy that I was absent for a lot of years when my first daughter [was born]… And that’s what the presidency would do.”

Dwayne Johnson joked that he always sings “in keys that don’t exist” as he and his mother Ata Johnson performed a special song to celebrate her birthday

 

Dwayne Johnson (left) and his mother Ata Johnson photographed together. PHOTO:

DWAYNE JOHNSON/INSTAGRAM

Dwayne Johnson is wishing his mother Ata Johnson a happy birthday!

On Wednesday, Johnson, 51, shared a video to Instagram of himself singing with his mother Ata, who turns 75 today. Ata can be seen playing a ukelele in the video as she and Dwayne performed a special birthday song together.

“Don’t start crying,” Dwayne jokes in the video, before his mother says: “I want to sing. Do you know how to sing in tune?”

“I know how to sing in keys that don’t exist,” Dwayne joked, before launching into the tune. During the song, the pair joked that Ata is only turning 59 before Dwayne placed a pink-colored lei around her neck and planted a kiss on her head.

“Before I even start singing to my mom her special Happy Birthday song, she starts to cry 🥹,” Dwayne wrote in an caption to his post. “Probably because I always sing in keys that don’t exist 🤣 🎶🙋🏽‍♂️”

 

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!” he added in the caption. “75 years of experience, wisdom, hard times, good times, laughter, mana, and yet thru it all — you TRULY have the KINDEST HEART I have ever known ❤️💫 I feel like the luckiest son on earth.”

To top the post off, Dwayne wrote “Ou Te Alofa Ia Te Oe 🌺,” which roughly translates from Samoan to English as “I love you.”

Dwayne Johnson (left) and his mother Ata Johnson on Dec. 9, 2019.

JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Dwayne’s happy birthday post to his mother comes nearly nine months after he shared with his fans that Ata was involved in a serious car crash in February. The actor said days after the incident that his mother was “doing good” and that he was alerted of the accident via a phone call in the middle of the night.

“Angels of mercy watched over my mom as she was in a car crash late last night. She’ll survive and continue to get evaluated,” Dwayne wrote of the incident in a Feb. 2 Instagram post. “This woman has survived lung cancer, tough marriage, head on collision with a drunk driver. She’s a survivor, in ways that make angels and miracles real.

Dwayne Johnson (left) and his mother Ata Johnson on Nov. 14, 2016.

ALBERT L. ORTEGA/GETTY IMAGES

Back in May, Dwayne shared an Instagram video of himself and Ata slow dancing together as a band played Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” to celebrate Mother’s Day.

“I always say, if we got a good, loving mom, then we got a shot at growing up to become a decent human being,” he wrote in a caption at the time. “I got lucky, my mom is one of the good ones.”

Dwayne’s father, professional wrestler Rocky Johnson, died of a pulmonary embolism in 2020 at age 75.

Dwayne Johnson wasn’t always a rock. It was shortly into his career as a WWE (then WWF) wrestler that the actor adopted his famous sobriquet, having initially been named “Rocky Maivia” – a combination of his father and grandfather’s wrestling names. But “The Rock” has always seemed like a suitable aptronym. He’s hard, yes. Chiselled, sure. “Rock” might even conjure some sense of natural majesty – like a great cliff face, perhaps. But when have rocks ever been fun?

 

The man many tip as a legitimate contender for future US president – in the pop culture mould of Ronald Reagan or Donald Trump – is now starring in what could be his highest-profile film role to date. In the DC Comics adaptation Black Adam, Johnson plays a fearsome antihero, a gnarlier, kill-happy Superman. It’s already been savaged by reviewers – The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey dubbed it “bewildering” and “stubbornly monotonous” – but the strength of Johnson’s personal brand has meant the film is already a box office hit. It’s hard not to look at The Rock, though, and be slightly baffled by the magnitude of his success. How did this man with no real ability to sell a line reading, who is just a few kilograms shy of looking like a circus strongman, manage to become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet?

It wasn’t always this way. After being raised in the sweat and bluster of professional wrestling, The Rock tumbled somewhat awkwardly into the world of Hollywood, making his debut in the Brendan Fraser action flick The Mummy Returns in 2001. While he found steady work over the next decade, Johnson struggled to whittle his outsized wrestling persona into something more suited to the idiosyncrasies of cinema. There were the garish CGI sludge-fests (The Scorpion King; Doom). The lazy action movies (Walking Tall). The schlocky family comedies (The Game Plan). In the WWE, The Rock had been white marble. In Hollywood, his career was sediment.

And yet, at some point, the narrative changed. Johnson may not have been a great actor, but he slowly became a bona fide movie star. Starting with his role in Fast Five, he began to be seen as a major box office draw. Through films like Central Intelligence, San Andreas and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – releases that were widely seen but left no lasting cultural footprint – he transformed himself into one of the world’s most bankable stars.

In each of the five years leading up to the pandemic, Johnson was either the highest or second-highest-paid actor in the world, earning an estimated total of $430.4m. But while he was winning over the hearts of the public, he has never been embraced by the critical community, even to the extent that other WWE alumni like Dave Bautista or John Cena have (in films such as Blade Runner 2049 or Blockers). Recent films like Jungle Cruise and Netflix’s Red Notice have showcased the worst of the 50-year-old actor’s foibles; they are high-budget dross, through and through.

So what is behind Johnson’s appeal? While few outside of the WWE fandom would ever describe The Rock as funny – if wrestling one-liners and “jabroni” insults are your thing, I suppose he’s basically Oscar Wilde – he has also done well to take on projects that allow him to gently poke fun at himself. From a voice role in Disney’s hit animated musical Moana to a cameo in Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family, he has judiciously picked at the cracks in his all-action persona.

“Obviously he’s kind of superhuman in stature and looks and charisma and all those things, but he has an innate ability to always laugh at himself,” his Red Notice co-star Ryan Reynolds told Vanity Fair. “And that, in and of itself, is a superpower, you know? That’s always been the thing that I think really allows people in.” Self-parody will only go so far, mind you. Reports of contractual clauses preventing him from losing fights on screen suggest he’s not quite ready to throw his brand – or ego – entirely to the wind.

For another thing, Johnson has remained unusually apolitical, eschewing both the standard-order Hollywood liberalism that likely would have alienated much of his OG wrestling fanbase, as well as the reactionary Republicanism that can push hitherto successful actors into de facto pariahdom. Earlier this year, he dipped his toe in political controversy by appearing to voice support for polarising podcaster-bro Joe Rogan, only to walk it back, describing it as a “learning moment”.

Of course, the big thing Johnson has going for him – the big thing he has always had going for him – is his body. There are disadvantages to being a human tank, of course. In terms of acting, it puts a pretty huge limitation on the types of roles you can credibly play. He looks like no normal person looks. But for action films, this can often be a boon.

More than this, though, his musclebound body is actually key to his whole persona. Johnson has, however cynically, cultivated a reputation as a hard worker, someone who’s disciplined and professional. There are, of course, occasional gaps in this facade, such as his public, mud-slinging feud with Vin Diesel. (Diesel is another hardman actor who could more or less double for The Rock on paper, but, lacking Johnson’s shrewd likeability, has failed to escape the confines of the Fast and Furiouscircuit.) The proof of Johnson’s fundamental discipline, however, is there for everyone to see. His up-and-at-’em grindset is manifest in every bulge of bicep, every flex of pec. In this way, the usual artifice that surrounds actors is dispensed with. He cannot hide who he is – not without a very, very baggy shirt at least.

Of course, this sort of reasoning can only get you so far. To some extent, The Rock phenomenon cannot be explained. I suppose it speaks to the fundamental subjectivity of art: while some may find him wooden and guileless, others see a generationally charismatic action star. No one’s right, and no one’s wrong – but, as they say, money talks. When it comes to Dwayne Johnson, money simply won’t shut up.

There are many legends in the music business, with a select few considered icons and a smaller elite group known the world over by only their first names. Dolly Parton is one of those rare treasures.

In addition to becoming one of the genre’s great songwriters, Parton has conquered the pop charts and Hollywood. She’s been on the cover of Rolling Stone, owns a successful theme park and a movie production company, is a favorite guest on many television shows and wrote a Tony-nominated Broadway musical (9 to 5).

On top of her amazing success in pretty much any and every endeavor, Parton always takes the time to give back, open minds and spread love through her down-home country personality.

This list of Top 20 Dolly Parton Songs salutes some of Parton’s best works — but they’re just a few from her deep, vast catalog.

Top 20 Dolly Parton Songs: Her Biggest Hits And Most Underrated Deep Cuts

There are many country music legends in the business, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another as universally revered as Dolly Parton. Here are 20 of her greatest songs of all time.

20. “Hard Candy Christmas”

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20. “Hard Candy Christmas”

Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” — from the 1982 musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas — is often considered a Christmas song, but the singer herself says it’s not explicitly about the holiday season. Rather, it’s a song about the lean times in life, when families can only afford to buy inexpensive treats like bulk hard candy for their children. Whether you consider “Hard Candy Christmas” a holiday song or not, it’s a beautiful tune year-round about life’s hardest times — and its sweetest.

19. “Backwoods Barbie”

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19. “Backwoods Barbie”

“I’ve always been misunderstood because of how I look / Don’t judge me by the cover, ’cause I’m a real good book,” Parton sings in this quippy, autobiographical song from 2008. The singer wrote “Backwoods Barbie” solo, and it addresses something Parton’s dealt with her whole career: The fact that people only see her signature look, and not necessarily the talent beneath the surface when they lay eyes on her. This song also contains a lyric that’s gone on to become a bona fide Dolly-ism: “I might look artificial, but where it counts I’m real.”

No. 18. “Love Is Like a Butterfly”

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No. 18. “Love Is Like a Butterfly”

Dolly fans know that the singer loves butterflies: They’ve gone on to become a signature image for Parton, appearing in everything from her perfume brand logo to the gardens of her Dollywood theme park. In this 1974 classic, Parton sings about her insect of choice, with a voice that lightly lilts just as delicately as a butterfly landing on a flower.

No. 17: “Eagle When She Flies”

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No. 17: “Eagle When She Flies”

Parton pulls on another animal metaphor — that of an eagle — in “Eagle When She Flies,” a power ballad from 1991. Its evocative story line traces all the different things the same woman can be — a mother, a lover, a friend, a wife and so much else — and underscores her dual powers of vulnerability and resilience, shifting from “a sparrow when she’s broken” to “an eagle when she flies.”

No. 16: “Touch Your Woman”

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No. 16: “Touch Your Woman”

Parton’s Grammy-nominated 1972 hit was a bit of a left turn for the singer at a time: It wasn’t upbeat and anthem like “9 to 5” and “Two Doors Down,” nor was it a heartrending ballad like “I Will Always Love You” or “Coat of Many Colors.” Instead, this R&B-tinged, mid-tempo number takes listeners inside a disagreement between two members of a couple and ultimately resolves with a desire to reconnect, and the assurance that “Everything’s gonna be alright.” This realtime look into mature, complex love marks another kind of story song for Parton, and one that had listeners looking into their own love stories, and rediscovering the good in them.

No. 15: “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”

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No. 15: “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”

If “I Will Always Love You” was written about Parton’s painful professional separation from her longtime mentor and collaborator Porter Wagoner, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” was written about the positivity and freedom of the aftermath of that split. The singer has said as much in interviews, but even if you haven’t gone through a difficult but ultimately split from a longtime friend, there’s plenty in this song to relate to: Over the course of the power ballad, it’s easy to imagine the clouds parting, the storm clearing, and the hard times giving way to something much more hopeful and new.

No. 14: “Dumb Blonde”

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No. 14: “Dumb Blonde”

All the way back in 1966, when Parton was releasing her very first album, Hello, I’m Dolly, she already knew who she was. The jangly, honky-tonkin’ “Dumb Blonde” is her early-career autobiographical statement, demanding that people look past her bubbly exterior and listen to what she has to say. “Dumb Blonde” was Parton’s first song to ever make waves on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart, and made it clear to everyone in country music that “This dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool.”

No. 13: “Tennessee Homesick Blues”

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No. 13: “Tennessee Homesick Blues”

If you know Dolly Parton, you know she hails from the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee — and she’s dang proud of her country girl roots! Parton’s career has taken her to a whole lot of places, but no bright lights or fast-paced cities could ever drown out her memories of home, and this jumpy, string-filled 1984 chart-topper is a fitting tribute to the place Parton comes from.

No. 12: “Wildflowers”

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No. 12: “Wildflowers”

Parton champions her Appalachian roots in “Wildflowers,” a tender, mid-1980s folk tune that the singer included on Trio, her collaborative album with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. Rondstadt and Harris’ vocals provide powerful, folksy oomph to this performance, but it’s the song’s story — Parton’s tale of freedom and hearty resilience, just like the wildflowers that grow by the highway — that makes “Wildflowers” so special.

No. 11: “Just Because I’m a Woman”

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No. 11: “Just Because I’m a Woman”

“Just Because I’m a Woman” is another early career hit in which Parton demands respect, care and freedom to make her own mistakes — despite her sex. The singer lays out blistering societal double standards, and claps back at men who are just fine engaging in salacious behavior with an unmarried woman that can “ruin her reputation” — but see that same girl as too “tainted” to ever be a respectable long-term partner.

No. 10: “Joshua”

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No. 10: “Joshua”

In 1970, Parton dropped “Joshua,” a rapid-fire story song that cruised to No. 1 on the country charts and eventually earned her her first-ever Grammy nomination. Its lyrics tell the story of a young woman who pays a visit to the town recluse, despite rumors that he’s “a mean and a vicious man,” but instead she finds that — well, you’re just going to have to listen to the song to find out. It’s an important reminder not to judge a book by its cover, and playful proof that sometimes the town grump isn’t quite what he appears.

No. 9: “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That”

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No. 9: “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That”

It’s easy to see why “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That” was a No. 1 hit on country radio: It’s a feel-good, bop-along homage to a cowboy whose looks are just too good to be true, even though there might be a heartbreaker lurking underneath the surface. This playful fan-favorite came out in 1989 off Parton’s White Limozeen album, and here’s a fun fact: Among the all-star session players who cut the song with Parton were banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck and mandolin great and bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs.

No. 8: “Little Sparrow”

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No. 8: “Little Sparrow”

Appalachian folk has always been a big part of Parton’s musical background, and “Little Sparrow” is a great example of her knack for the folksier side of music making. Gentle strings and guitar are featured on the track, but it’s really Parton’s voice that’s at the center of it all: Her delicate soprano and rich, minor-key vocal harmonies paint a picture of a gentle little sparrow who flies high to transcend its fragility — just like the heart of a tender woman who’s been hurt too many times by careless men.

No. 7: “Two Doors Down”

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No. 7: “Two Doors Down”

True story: Parton wrote this bouncy, poppy late-’70s hit about her love of fried clams! Some details were changed in the writing of the song, and Parton’s FOMO about missing a fried clam buffet at a hotel stop transformed into the story of a broken-hearted woman debating whether or not to go to a neighbor’s party. The results were a country chart-topping single that also broke the Top 20 on the pop charts, too, proving that Parton could effortlessly and seamlessly captivate a pop audience without sacrificing her country bona fides.

No. 6: “Here You Come Again”

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No. 6: “Here You Come Again”

Parton is known for her songwriting, but she also occasionally cuts songs she didn’t write, and such is the case with “Here You Come Again.” You’d never know it: Parton’s vocal delivery is so expressive, effortlessly heartbroken and connected to her subject matter that it’s clear she feels every bit as passionate about the song as she would have had she penned it herself. “Here You Come Again” topped the country charts for five weeks straight, won a Grammy Award and also made it all the way up to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

No. 5: “Islands in the Stream”

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No. 5: “Islands in the Stream”

“Islands in the Stream” is one of the most popular karaoke choices out there, but few karaoke night performers have the vocal chops to match Parton’s powerhouse performance. That’s no knock on them: Parton is at her stellar, stratospheric best in this duet performance with Kenny Rogers, which came out in 1983. The song comes by its poppy, R&B flair honestly, since it was written by members of the BeeGees, who ultimately gave it to Rogers to record. Once Parton signed on to the song, it became a massive crossover hit, and even accomplished the incredible feat of occupying the No. 1 slot on the Billboard pop, adult contemporary and country charts.

No. 4: “Coat of Many Colors”

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No. 4: “Coat of Many Colors”

Parton’s memories of childhood are some of her biggest musical inspirations, and in “Coat of Many Colors,” she describes a coat her mother sewed for her, using rags of all different kinds of colors. A young Parton gets made fun of at school for her unfashionable, handmade coat, but it’s still a source of pride for the young girl, and a lingering memory of how a family’s love can triumph over poverty.

No. 3: “Jolene”

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No. 3: “Jolene”

“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene!” Parton introduced legions of fans to the red-haired, blindingly beautiful woman who made a pass at her husband in this canonical release from 1974. It was a massive country chart-topper in the mid-’70s, and a moderate crossover hit, too, but the legacy of “Jolene” has endured: Today, it’s one of Parton’s most recognizable songs, and a favorite with fans from all musical backgrounds. Parton has said that the song was inspired by a true story: Specifically, a bank teller who flirted with her husband Carl Dean when they were newly married. The name she chose for her title heroine isn’t based on that story, though. Instead, she came up with the name after a young fan named Jolene approached her and asked for an autograph.

No. 2: “9 to 5”

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No. 2: “9 to 5”

Perhaps Parton’s biggest pop crossover hit, “9 to 5” is a bouncy and infectious ode to life as a career woman. It appears in the comedy film of the same name, which co-starred Parton alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and Parton borrowed the song’s name for an album title, too. “9 to 5” earned Parton numerous awards and nominations, and made her only the second woman ever to top both the U.S. Country Singles chart and the Billboard Hot 100 with the same single (the first was Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA.”)

No. 1: “I Will Always Love You”

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No. 1: “I Will Always Love You”

What else could top a list of Dolly Parton’s best songs? “I Will Always Love You” is arguably Parton’s signature song, a plaintive and powerful ballad written about her professional break with longtime mentor and collaborator Porter Wagoner. In its lyrics, Parton professes enduring love for a person, even though she’s moving on with her life, and she hopes he does, too. Whitney Houston delivered a terrific rendition of this song, but to us, Parton will always be the original and ultimate “I Will Always Love You” performer.

Henry Cavill’s rumored debut in the MCU might spell possibility for another much-awaited duel.

The duel between Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman seems like already ages ago, and with the latter’s exit from the franchise and the rise of the newly revamped DC Universe, the duo’s on-screen rivalry may have ended for good.

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel

But, there is always hope and the possibility of achieving the said rematch in Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Cavill’s rumored debut in Deadpool and Wolverine, and Affleck’s history as Daredevil, something can be done here.

Rumors About Henry Cavill Playing Wolverine Variant Get More Exciting

Deadpool and Wolverine

A scooper previously shared critical information that Henry Cavill might be debuting in Deadpool and Wolverine as a variant of the clawed mutant. As per Giant Freakin Robot:

“I’ve been able to confirm that Henry Cavill will indeed appear in Deadpool 3. Henry Cavill will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine as a multiverse variant of Wolverine. His version will be wearing a long brown coat when he shows up, and this will be Cavill’s first appearance in the Marvel universe.”

Now that’s definitely exciting news, but since there is no official announcement yet from Marvel Studios, this report should be taken with a grain of salt. However, another well-known industry insider revealed that the Man of Steel actor is indeed in Deadpool 3. CanWeGetSomeToast posted on their platform:

“I can confirm that Henry Cavill will in fact play a Wolverine variant in ‘DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’. Fans will be very pleased with his appearance.”

If Cavill really does end up landing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are many other characters he can also explore. The actor has previously been supported by fans to play Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four as he has also expressed interest in portraying Captain Britain.

Daredevil (2003)

The possibilities are endless, but since fans want a rematch between Superman and Batman, all Marvel needs to do is to bring back Ben Affleck’s Daredevil into the fold. Fans know what happened to the ill-fated franchise, and although the Gone Girl star admitted hating his own movie,

there’s always a way to redeem oneself.

The idea might seem impossible, but in the comics, Wolverine and Daredevil really had a fierce clash that fans might want to see happen on the screen.