Madison Pettis, right, is enjoying her acting role as the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.Madison Pettis, 8, didn’t know who Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was until she won the part to play his daughter in a movie, The Game Plan. Now, Johnson - a former pro wrestler-turned actor - even has a pet name for Pettis, an Arlington native.

“He keeps calling me ‘Honey,’” Pettis said in a telephone interview. “He said, ‘Honey, you’re doing a great job. Oh, Honey, you did so great.’ (more…)

Gloucester, Mass. — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson brought some Hollywood glitter to Gloucester on what was otherwise a gray, drizzly day on Cape Ann.

The former college football player and World Wrestling Federation wrestler turned actor arrived at Addison Gilbert Hospital just after noon Wednesday where scenes for the Disney film “The Game Plan” are being shot over several days this week. (more…)

credit: bostonherald.com

On November 1, 2006 A handful of celebs were set to show up for the Celts’ opener last night, among them actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and a few of his “Game Plan” pals, including producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, director Andy Fickman, and actors Brian J. White, Morris Chestnut, Gordon Clapp, Hayes MacArthur , and Jamal Duff.

Dwayne Johnson is featured in the Nov 2006 issue of Sister 2 Sister Magazine on sale now! In it DJ talks about How Gridiron Gang parallels his life. I have added an excerpt of the article from the website below and scans of the article are up in the galleries

Sister 2 Sister:
First of all, as a married woman who still recognizes a great-looking human being, I and other estrogen-laden reporters were in awe just from looking at the magnificent creature called Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when we sat down at a roundtable with him to talk about his movie, Gridiron Gang. Gridiron Gang is based on the life of Sean Porter, a counselor at a juvenile detention center.
The Rock had a cast on his foot during the interview. What happened?

Dwayne: “I was rehearsing for my next movie and I ruptured my Achilles tendon. It happened eight weeks ago on June 19 and I had it reattached on the 23rd. Now we start shooting this movie that I got hurt on on September 25. It’s a movie called The Game (more…)

Boston Rebels QB Joe Kingman threw a swinging bash at Jellyfish yesterday and everyone who was anyone was invited to attend! 

“Heroes” heroine Ali Larter was in da house, but flying under the radar in the back. 
 
Also making the swinging scene was Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce, former Dallas Cowboys running back Eddie George and NESN vixen Hazel Mae - who were playing themselves in a scene for Disney’s “The Game Plan.”  (more…)

There will be a Halloween Town celebration at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will greet visitors Saturday, and kids can enjoy costumed characters, laser tag, costume fashion shows and more. The event is designed for toddlers to 12-year-olds. Tickets, $16-$18, benefit Boston Medical Center’s Kids Fund. Call 617-638-0100 or go to www.halloweentownboston.com.

credit: thebostonherald

The weather pushed shooting for “The Game Plan” into extra hours Friday night and over the weekend, but it didn’t seem to bother the film’s star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. That’s because Johnson’s wife, Dany, flew in for a surprise visit with the couple’s young daughter, Simone. (more…)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and co-star Roselyn Sanchez visited Framingham for the filming of the Disney feature “The Game Plan” at the Framingham Civic League September 29, 2006. Dwayne Johnson’s cousin and stunt-double, Tanoai Reed, was also on hand for filming and autograph signings. I have added 5 MQ photos of the event and 2 smaller photos to the Dwayne In Framingham 9-29-06 Gallery

BOLIVAR-He knows his moves. He knows his movies. And now he knows him.

Bolivar Middle School student Gary Jackson met Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” during a trip to Hollywood, Calif., last month sponsored by the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Jackson, who was diagnosed last year with a low-grade Glimoa tumor, met Johnson during the premiere of his new movie, The Gridiron Gang, Sept. 5.
Jackson has followed Johnson’s career from the small screen and World Wrestling Entertainment to the big screen. As a first-grader, Jackson began collecting “The Rock” memorabilia and videos. When Johnson made the move to the big screen, Jackson continued to follow his career. (more…)

By Kam Williams
Born in San Francisco but raised in Hawaii, Dwayne Johnson was a High School All-American defensive lineman who went on to star for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team which won the national championship in 1991. However, his plans for an NFL career were cut short by a shoulder injury. So instead, he followed in his father’s (Rocky Johnson) and grandfather’s (Chief Peter Maivia) footsteps by embarking on a career as a professional wrestler. (more…)

Article/Video

(CBS4) FRAMINGHAM Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of Hollywood’s most popular stars and dozens of his fans in Framingham had a huge thrill Wednesday when they had the chance to get up close and personal with the former wrestling star turned actor.

The Rock is shooting a new movie called “The Game Plan” in locations through greater Boston; Wednesday he set up shop at the Framingham Civic League…click here for the full article and 2 video interviews from the event.

Articles and Interviews

Here are a bunch of interesting press articles about Gridiron Gang.

• `Gridiron Gang’Scores at the Box Office
• Friday Box Office Analysis-Gridiron Gang was unable to match the box office of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s earlier films such as The Rundown and Walking Tall as it made $4.7 million on..
• ‘Gridiron Gang‘ wins uninspiring Friday
• The Rock gets dramatic in ‘Gridiron Gang’
• THE ROCK: ‘I HATE HOLLYWOOD’

Articles

Playing a probation officer turned coach for delinquents in “Gridiron Gang,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson sees himself in both.
Dwayne “THE ROCK” JOHNSON is talking about the injuries that have torn up his athlete-turned-movie-star body over the years. A complete shoulder reconstruction. Four knee surgeries. One by one, he ticks off his old football wounds. One, two, three ruptured disks, all during his senior year in college.

(more…)

Premieres/Events

The Gridiron Gang Miami Premiere was sponsored by The GMC division of General Motors on September 8th 2006 at the Shops at Sunset Place at 9:30 p.m. There was a premiere and an after party which served as a fundraiser for Dwayne Johnson’s new non-profit organization The ROCK Foundation, which provides programs designed to enrich the lives and self-esteem of underserved, at-risk youth and children hospitalized for medical disabilities, disorders and illnesses. At the event, GMC will presented The ROCK Foundation with a charitable donation of $170,000 to read more about the event and the official press release click here

I have added over 30 photos from the premiere and the after party fundraiser please visit the galleries here.

Articles

Dwayne Johnson and wife Dany Garcia Johnson have donated $2 million to the University of Miami to name the living room of the new Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center. The gift will be announced tonight at a “Gridiron Gang” premiere in Miami. They will have a living room with 26-foot ceilings, stone floors and a fireplace named “The Dany and Dwayne `The Rock’ Johnson Living Room.” credit: wrestling observer