NBC's Young Rock shared a first look at the upcoming television series, focusing on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's upbringing in the "unpredictable world of professional wrestling."
On the eve of its premiere episode debut, Johnson gave some insight to fans as to what they can expect from the biopic series that's as focused on him as his family's wrestling legacy. "This entire series is inspired by moments in my life growing up," he said. "It's my mom and I following my dad around the world as he wrestles," he added, between clips of the series.
"It's my earlier years when I was a teenager," he said before the camera jumps to showing a clip from the series where a mustached teenage Dwayne (portrayed by Bradley Constant) pretended to be named Tomas because it sounded cooler than 'Dwayne.'
Johnson continued, "I went to about 3-4 different high schools. By the time I was 15, they all thought I was an undercover cop," he added, jokingly referring to his facial hair growth at a young age and overall size that fared larger than most teens his age.
Clips of the show also included a first look at actors playing the parts of iconic WWE legends like Junkyard Dog, Randy Savage, Andre the Giant and Vince McMahon. The Young Rock promo also showcased his family's part in the series and within the world of professional wrestling, which will include his grandmother, Lia Maivia (portrayed by Ana Tuisila) who in Johnson's words was "the first female wrestling promoter." In Tuisila's words, "She (Lia) had to be twice as mean to get respect from a male-dominated sport."
Young Rock's 11-episode comedy series will center on the titular star's rough upbringing, one that included multiple prison stints, and how that propelled him to stardom - first as a college football star and later in both the squared circle and on the big screen. It will also chronicle the early years of WWE from the '80s and onward.
Created by Nahnatchka Khan and produced by Johnson, Young Rock stars Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant and Uli Latukefu in the titular role with Stacey Leilua Ata and Joseph Lee Anderson as his parents Ata and Rocky. The series premieres Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Source: YouTube/NBC