Maybe the erstwhile Rock isn’t quite ready to give up those family films just yet…. THR.com’s Heat Vision reports that Johnson is in talks to sign on to take the lead in the upcoming Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, the sequel to the 2008 Brendan Fraser film, Journey To The Center of the Earth 3D. Fraser and New Line came to loggerheads over the start date, which allows The Scorpion King to slip in and take over. The original film starred Fraser as scientist, Trevor Anderson, and Josh Hutcherson as his nephew, Sean, who fall into a giant hole that takes them to the center of the planet when they’re looking for Trevor’s brother, Sean’s dad. In order to escape, they had to recreate the trek depicted in the book, Journey To The Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne.
The new film will find Hutcherson returning to his role. Johnson will play the boyfriend of Hutcherson’s mom, whom Hutcherson is
forced to bring on a trip to a mythical and monstrous island to find
his missing grandfather. The script is loosely based on Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island. Original director, Eric Brevig, also is not returning, so Brad Peyton (Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore) is directing. Production is slated to start in late October in North Carolina and Hawaii and will also be shot in 3D. Meanwhile, Johnson has actioners Fast 5, Faster and Protection upcoming. After that, don’t be surprised if he’s back in something… heartwarming. *sigh*
Thanks to Felix for the tip.