See Dwayne Johnson And JK Simmons In Rock Star Santa Gear For Red One
Dwayne Johnson and JK Simmons look like the North Pole is gearing up for war in a photo from Red One.
Dwayne Johnson shared a new image from the set of the upcoming Amazon Prime Video Christmas action flick Red One, and in doing so, hinted at new plot details for the film. The photo features Johnson walking alongside J.K. Simmons, who plays a buff, leather-clad iteration of Santa Claus in the film, down an ornate hallway consistent with the architecture of the North Pole headquarters revealed in previous behind-the-scenes pictures.
Set photos from Red One make Dwayne Johnson and J.K. Simmons look like members of a North Pole motorcycle gang. Their hefty gear and athletic physiques highlight a utilitarian approach to the Christmas present delivery operation, and Johnson’s caption on the post contains another clue.
Johnson began the caption by saying, “It’s an honor to have his six.” He went on to praise J.K. Simmons and hype up the movie, and then signed the caption as “Commander of the E.L.F.” Everything Dwayne Johnson has put forward about the movie makes it appear that he is high up in the system that supports Santa Claus’s operation.
Could Johnson be redefining what it means to be an Elf in the North Pole? It is hard to say, as plot details for the film have been under tighter wraps than presents under the Christmas tree. The only real hints the public has have come from Dwayne Johnson’s social media accounts.
What has been revealed is the film’s cast (via IMDB). In addition to Dwayne Johnson and J.K. Simmons, the film will star Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Nick Kroll, Kiernan Shipka, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Kristofer Hivju. The nature of the cast’s roles are still murky, but Evans appears to play an outsider to the North Pole who will have significant screen time with Johnson.
The film is helmed by Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle director Jake Kasdan from a screenplay by Fast and the Furious franchise writer Chris Morgan. With that lineup, Red One is sure to be a big, action-packed, and comedic film. Dwayne Johnson has also contended on social media that Red One will kick off a franchise, so assuming the film does well for Amazon, a lot more Christmas action is likely on the way.
Dwayne Johnson has had mixed success when it comes to franchises. His Jumanji movies have been massive hits, and another is on the way. The recently released Black Adam suffered a less exciting fate, and Johnson’s very public plans for his DC character to take the spotlight in the DCU seem to be slipping through his fingers.
Red One, on the other hand, has all the makings of a successful franchise kickoff. The film’s cast is composed of bankable stars and its crew is comprised of seasoned pros in the franchise film market. The budget has not been made public, but it is big (rumors are that Dwayne Johnson is expected to make $50 million on the film), so Amazon will need all the help it can get to make Red One a profitable endeavor for the studio.
Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans are still red hot in Hollywood, with much more on the way. With a cast bolstered by the likes of J.K. Simmons and Lucy Liu, Red One has serious talent on its hands. Amazon will deliver Red One during the 2023 holiday season on Prime Video.
