Dwayne Johnson has given an update on the new Martin Scorsese Hawaii crime movie.
It was announced earlier this year that Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Leonardo DiCaprio will star in a new drama movie directed by Martin Scorsese. The film, which does not yet have an official title, will be about a Hawaiian mob boss who built an empire during the 1960s and 70s.
What did Dwayne Johnson say about the new Martin Scorsese movie?
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Johnson announced that production on the movie will begin in 2026.
“Nappy Pulawa, just so you guys know, he’s considered the godfather of Hawaii,” Johnson said of the movie’s story. “He was the godfather who ran all of the islands, but he had to do it in a way that was very ruthless, that was very strategic, and that was still very smart. But, also, keep in mind, we had the Japanese yakuza there, the Chinese triads, the Korean gangs, outside influence, American gangsters coming in from Vegas trying to take over Hawaii — Hawaii was a hotbed. And, not only that, but you had American corporations coming in at that time, in the 50s, wanting to just take over Hawaii…What this man did, he was a reflection of how people — Hawaiians, the Polynesians — felt at that time. In the 50s and 60s, when everyone was just coming in, taking Hawaii, and cutting it up — this gang, this gang, this gang, and corporate America — he said, ‘This ends, and this all ends now.’ And he took it back.”
Johnson also said, “We put this up on its feet. We called Scorsese and had a meeting with him, we pitched him, and he loved it. He was blown away that this story has never been told…This idea of telling this story with Scorsese; nobody does a gangster movie better than Martin Scorsese. He is the GOAT. He’s on Mount Rushmore with the directors. Nobody does it better than him. But I think what has really energized him with this project is this idea of a man who stands up — yes, a gangster, yes, a godfather, and, yes, ruthless — but also he stands up to reclaim what was originally stolen, and that was culture and that was land.”
A release date for the new Scorsese movie with Dwayne Johnson has not yet been set.
