Sitcom 'Young Rock' based on Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, debuts Tuesday

 

Every legend has a beginning. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in Young Rock, a larger-than-life family comedy based on outrageous stories of the superstar's youth. 

This coming-of-age journey highlights the unforgettable moments and incredible relationships thrugh three stages of his life, from pre-adolecense, to teenager to young adult starting out on a career.

What the journey that took Dwayne from ordinary kid to extraordinary superstar – revealing he’s more like us than we know.

Co-created by Nahnatchka Khan and Dwayne Johnson, the series will be executive produced by Khan and Jeff Chiang, the team that brought us Fresh Off the Boat, another coming-of-age sitcom.  

Young Rock is the third situation comedy depicting the coming-of-age of AAPI youngsters. Besides Fresh Off the Boat, which ended after seven seasons, Netflix's Never Have I Ever is about an Indian American young woman and based on Mindy Kaling's teen years.

​Khan and Chiang co-wrote the pilot. Johnson will appear in each episode, and his formative years will be the series' focus and inspiration. The series premieres Tuesday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. on NBC.

Three different Polynesian actors will portray Johnson in flashbacks in three different stages of his life: Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant and Uli Latukefu.

As co-writer and producer of the show, it has allowed Johnson to reflect on his past.  He’s come to realize the challenges provided the opportunity for real growth.

“It became an anchoring factor in my struggle and my determination to, quite frankly, not be a victim when, again, we were evicted (from housing) when I was 13 or 14,” he said. 

As he worked with Khan to find the right approach to the show, “I did know in my heart the most important thing was to be authentic and to be OK with ripping some stories open and ripping some past open.”

Khan said working Johnson has been easy because the star wasn't afraid to let his life be scrutinized. 

“He really wanted to go there and show the struggle, that it hasn’t been a straight line to the top for him,” Khan told the Associated Press. “He’s been knocked down a lot and he’s had to pivot off what he thought was his dream and find a new dream, a new path. Being able to explore those kinds of moments in a comedy are really important.”