:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/brendan-fraser-dwayne-johnson-101525-82ab0d44b87a43648532f33042bfc931.jpg "How Brendan Fraser helped Dwayne Johnson 'kick off' his acting career: 'I love that man for that'")
Johnson recalled Fraser as a huge advocate during his fledgling acting career while they collaborated on Johnson's first film. How Brendan Fraser helped Dwayne
Johnson recalled Fraser as a huge advocate during his fledgling acting career while they collaborated on Johnson's first film.
How Brendan Fraser helped Dwayne Johnson 'kick off' his acting career: 'I love that man for that'
Johnson recalled Fraser as a huge advocate during his fledgling acting career while they collaborated on Johnson's first film.
By Ryan Coleman
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Ryan Coleman
Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.
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October 15, 2025 8:30 p.m. ET
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Brendan Fraser and Dwayne Johnson. Credit:
Leon Bennett/Getty; Amy Sussman/WireImage
Dwayne Johnson has come a long way from the wrestling ring, and he credits one of his first costars with helping him get there.
"The very first movie I ever did was a movie called *The Mummy Returns*. Brendan Fraser was one of the biggest stars in the world, as he is today," Johnson explained on Monday's episode of *New Heights*, the podcast hosted by NFL sibling stars Jason and Travis Kelce.
Johnson remembered that he was "so excited to be cast in the film, [in] a small part called the Scorpion King," before circling back to the series' anchor. "Brendan Fraser, by the way, I always want to make mention of this. He was one of the biggest stars in the world. That was his franchise. I am coming in, I have never acted before, I'm excited. He could have easily said, 'I don't know if I want this wrestler.'"
But instead, Johnson said Fraser "embraced me. I love that man for that, and he helped kick off my career."
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Dwayne Johnson as the Scorpion King in 'The Mummy Returns'.
Universal/ Courtesy Everett
Per Johnson, the role of the Scorpion King in the 2001 sequel to the blockbuster adventure film from two years prior consists of about "five minutes total in the movie," appearing "just in the beginning of the movie and at the end of the movie."
But that didn't matter to the fledgling actor. "I was just so excited at the opportunity," he said.
By the early 2000s, Johnson had already taken the world of wrestling by storm. Known as The Rock after a brief period under the nickname "Rocky Maivia," a nod to both his father and his grandfather, Johnson made his WWF debut in 1996. He won his first championship in 1998, becoming one of the most popular wrestlers in the entire Federation by the dawn of the new millennium.
Brendan Fraser recalls 'Mummy' costar 'got bit in the nipple' by horse on set
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Dwayne Johnson reacts to 'The Smashing Machine' being his lowest opening ever
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Johnson may have had little experience *screen *acting, in other words, but he he was already a certified pro at playing to an audience, working it for a camera, and taking on characters.
*The Mummy Returns *turned out to be a massive commercial success, setting Johnson up for the rewarding and varied career he's since enjoyed. In the years that have passed, Johnson and Fraser haven't had the chance to act together again, but continue to speak warmly about one another.
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In September, Fraser revealed he was hyped to watch Johnson in the wrestling biopic *The Smashing Machine*, saying, "Dwayne, he's a really great guy and it's gonna be exciting to watch him emerge from this. I predict you'll be seeing a lot more of him on these red carpets in the days to come."****
Back in 2022, after the premiere of Fraser's big comeback vehicle *The Whale *was met with adulation, Johnson shared that it "makes me so happy to see this beautiful ovation for Brendan... He supported me coming into his *Mummy Returns* franchise for my first ever role, which kicked off my Hollywood career. Rooting for all your success brother."**
You can listen to the rest of Johnson's appearance on the *New Heights *podcast above.
Source: "AOL Movies"
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