As you might already know, Dwayne Johnson is set to star in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Hawaiian crime epic, which will also feature Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt as co-leads. 20th Century is producing the $200 million film.
This morning, Johnson appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and shared some insights into the project. It turns out that, following the completion of “The Smashing Machine,” he and Blunt began exploring ideas for their next collaboration. Together, they developed a concept, which they ultimately pitched to Martin Scorsese.
However, the big news is that—despite many skeptics who doubt the project will ever come to fruition—production is already being planned.
Johnson confirmed that the film is scheduled to begin shooting next year in Hawaii!
No one does a gangster movie better than Martin Scorsese. He’s the GOAT. We had a meeting with Scorsese, pitched it, and he loved it. He was blown away that the story’s never been told […] Next year we’re going to start shooting. I’m excited.
In addition, he revealed he's co-authoring a book that delves into the real-life history that inspired the film, though he admitted his co-writer, Nick Bilton, will be doing the bulk of the writing.
Johnson is also co-writing the screenplay with Vanity Fair journalist Nick Bilton. The story centers on the Hawaiian crime syndicate that operated during the 1960s and 1970s, which the film will adapt. The organization, known as The Company, was led by Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa—the first and only Hawaiian mob boss in history.
If Scorsese doesn’t move forward with any of his other percolating projects this year, then Johnson’s Hawaii-set crime film will most likely be his next feature film. I guess there’s still a slight possibility for him to shoot one of his smaller-scaled projects currently in development, “Home” or “The Life of Jesus,” but it would have to be shot fairly soon.