Young Rock

Young Rock frames Dwayne Johnson's life as a series of comic set pieces, presented through his imagined presidential campaign in 2032. Each episode reconstructs key moments from his childhood, showing what it was like growing up in a household of wrestling stars, then moves through his rebellious high school years in Pennsylvania and his time playing football at the University of Miami. The show mixes reenactment with commentary, as an older Johnson narrates and jokes about the bigger-than-life episodes that shaped him. It emphasizes family dynamics, ambition, and the oddball situations that turned a kid from a wrestling dynasty into a household name, without revealing major surprises or altering those memories for shock value.

Premiering in 2021 on NBC, Young Rock was created by Nahnatchka Khan and Jeff Chiang. Dwayne Johnson appears as himself and serves as an executive producer. The cast includes Joseph Lee Anderson as Rocky Johnson, Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson, Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia, and Adrian Groulx as young Dwayne.

The series hasn't been a major awards staple, but it drew industry attention for its casting choices and its blend of sitcom and biographical elements. It received some nominations and mentions in television discussions, particularly for how it staged real-life moments for comic effect, though it did not sweep high-profile prize lists.

Young Rock strengthened Dwayne Johnson's public narrative by dramatizing his origins and family life, contributing to conversations about celebrity origins and wrestling history. Key scenes and family vignettes circulated widely on social media, and the show reinforced Johnson's persona as relatable and hardworking, adding to his ongoing cultural presence.

Critical reception has been mixed to positive, averaging about 6.9 out of 10 from audience votes. Reviewers praised the warmth, humor, and performances while noting an uneven tone between sitcom beats and biographical ambitions. Major themes are family loyalty, identity construction, fame, and how personal mythmaking shapes a public image.