With Journey 2: the Mysterious Island, Dwayne Johnson steps into a franchise already in progress – something he’s making a habit of after last year’s Fast Five and this summer’s G.I. Joe: Retribution. And it’s a habit the former wrestler is more than happy with, as it’s earned him quite a unique nickname.

Once again, you’re coming into a franchise that’s already up and running. Is this part of a particular career plan?
No, it was never a career decision to join franchises. What was a very concerted decision was to come into a film and elevate it.

And I’ve got to tell you, this is where I’ve been fortunate because the franchises that I have been involved with – G.I. Joe, Fast Five and now Journey – had a built-in audience, built-in success…. A studio executive the other day said, “You are the most legitimate Franchise Viagra in Hollywood I’ve ever seen.”

It seems like you understand the business of Hollywood a lot better than other actors.
I think, honestly, I’m going to give a lot of credit to the business I grew up in, and that was the business of professional wrestling.

While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea – understandably so – in its rawest essence, wrestling is about entertaining the audiences without ego…. So I think in that spirit, that’s allowed me to go from being the Tooth Fairy to a hunter of men.

Did you get a chance to talk to Brendan Frasier before taking on the role?
Good question, but no, we never had any dialogue. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Brendan.