Why Did Dwayne Johnson Decline to Take Over the ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ Franchise After $335 Million at the Box Office?

Why Did Dwayne Johnson Decline to Take Over the ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ Franchise After $335 Million at the Box Office?

In Hollywood, it’s not every day that a franchise with proven success at the box office sees a major star step away from the spotlight. But in the case of Journey to the Center of the Earth, a franchise that grossed a whopping $335 million worldwide in its 2008 reboot, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s surprising decision to not continue his involvement with the series raised eyebrows across the entertainment industry. After his impressive debut in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), fans and industry insiders alike expected Johnson to take the reins of the franchise, but instead, he chose to decline further participation. What led to this decision? Why did the star of Fast & Furious and Jumanji—two franchises built on massive box-office success—step back from a project that seemed to be primed for even greater financial returns?

The Journey of Journey to the Center of the Earth

The Journey to the Center of the Earth franchise, based on the classic 1864 novel by Jules Verne, first hit the big screen in 2008 with Journey to the Center of the Earth, starring Brendan Fraser. The movie, which blended family-friendly adventure with science fiction, became a surprise hit, grossing over $240 million globally. While it was generally well-received by audiences for its fun, light-hearted tone and visual effects, the film’s real draw was its promise of thrilling adventure—taking moviegoers on a fantastic journey through the Earth’s depths.

When the time came for a sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), the producers brought in Dwayne Johnson to replace Fraser, capitalizing on his rising stardom and immense box-office appeal. Johnson’s involvement brought a fresh energy to the series, injecting it with his trademark charisma and physicality. The sequel did even better than its predecessor, earning $335 million at the box office. With this kind of financial success, it seemed like a no-brainer that Johnson would continue his role in further sequels, and perhaps even take over as the face of the franchise. So why, after such a successful entry, did the actor choose to walk away from future installments?

A Franchise in Flux: The Changing Landscape of Hollywood

Before delving into the personal reasons behind Johnson’s decision, it’s important to understand the broader context of the Journey franchise and the shifting dynamics of Hollywood at the time.

By 2012, when Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released, the movie landscape was undergoing a significant transformation. While family-friendly action films still had mass appeal, the success of superhero franchises like The Avengers and the dominance of blockbuster franchises such as Harry Potter and The Twilight Saga were quickly becoming the new standard for massive earnings. Hollywood was shifting its focus toward big-budget, high-concept franchises with larger-than-life characters, and increasingly, studios began to look for ways to franchise properties that could potentially draw in young adult and adolescent audiences.

While Journey 2 performed well, it was clear that it was still operating within the traditional, old-school adventure genre, one that had been popular in the ’80s and ’90s but was now in competition with the ever-expanding dominance of superhero films. The future of Journey to the Center of the Earth as a continuing property didn’t have the same explosive potential that, say, Jumanji or Fast & Furious had at the time. In other words, Journey 2 was a success, but it was no longer on the cutting edge of what audiences were flocking to see.

For Dwayne Johnson, this could have been a critical moment to reassess his career trajectory. As his profile rose, so too did the scale of his projects. After his success with Journey 2, Johnson would go on to lead major franchises like Fast & Furious and Jumanji. These franchises appealed to a broader demographic and had far more longevity and financial potential than Journey. It’s likely that Johnson recognized that his brand and box-office power were better suited to bigger, more globally-reaching franchises.

The Appeal of Bigger, More Profitable Projects

Dwayne Johnson’s career, especially in the early 2010s, was on an upward trajectory. After his initial run as a WWE superstar, Johnson had successfully transitioned into acting with roles that showcased his charm, athleticism, and comedic timing. His performances in The Scorpion King (2002), Fast & Furious series, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) demonstrated his ability to anchor large-scale action films. The Jumanji reboot series also proved that Johnson had a unique knack for revitalizing franchises, combining his natural charisma with the modern sensibilities of humor and action.

By the time Journey 2 was in post-production, Johnson was already a key player in major franchises, particularly in the Fast & Furious universe. He had found a lucrative and dependable slot within those action-packed, high-octane films, where audiences were flocking to see his high-energy performances. This series was booming in popularity, and Johnson’s role as Luke Hobbs solidified him as an action hero for the modern age.

Additionally, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and its sequel Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) would go on to outperform Journey 2 in terms of global box office earnings, with the Jumanji franchise grossing over $1.7 billion worldwide. This kind of massive success likely made it harder for Johnson to commit to another Journey film, which, despite performing well, had more limited commercial potential. With his sights set on projects with higher returns, Journey 3 may have seemed like a step backward.

Personal and Professional Growth: Stepping Away from the Franchise

While the financial and strategic aspects of Johnson’s career played a major role in his decision to step away from Journey 2, it’s also worth considering his own personal and professional growth at the time. By 2012, Johnson had already experienced significant career growth and was transitioning from an action star to a more versatile, well-rounded actor with global appeal. Journey to the Center of the Earth had been a stepping stone, but it was clear that the opportunities available to him were becoming much larger.

Johnson’s increasing involvement in producing films and TV shows—along with his partnership with companies like Seven Bucks Productions—gave him more creative control over the projects he chose to attach himself to. The Journey franchise was very much a family-friendly, studio-driven vehicle, and though it aligned with Johnson’s public persona as an accessible action hero, it may have become creatively limiting for him. With a growing portfolio of projects, Johnson may have simply felt that his future lay in projects that allowed him more room to explore diverse roles, as well as larger commercial prospects.

Moreover, Johnson’s shift toward more comedic and self-aware roles, such as in Jumanji and Central Intelligence (2016), demonstrated his desire to take on lighter, more entertaining fare that appealed to a wider audience. The Journey films, while fun, may not have aligned with the kind of balance between action and comedy that Johnson was beginning to master in his later roles. His increasing popularity as a comedic actor could have made the more straightforward, action-adventure elements of Journey feel like a genre he had already outgrown.

The End of an Era: Looking Forward

So, why did Dwayne Johnson ultimately decline to take over the Journey to the Center of the Earth franchise, despite its financial success and his role in the sequel? Ultimately, it comes down to a combination of factors: the shifting landscape of Hollywood, his rising star power, the appeal of higher-profile franchises, and his evolving career as a versatile actor and producer. Johnson’s move to more lucrative and creatively freeing projects like Jumanji and Fast & Furious was, in hindsight, the right decision to make as he continued to build his brand.

The Journey franchise, while successful, simply couldn’t offer the same kind of massive, long-term potential that other projects in Johnson’s portfolio could. And so, rather than continue in a role that might have felt limiting creatively or commercially, Johnson chose to step away and focus on bigger opportunities that were better aligned with his growing global influence.

While fans of Journey to the Center of the Earth may have hoped for more adventures with Johnson in the lead, his decision reflects a natural progression in his career—one that has only continued to soar as he continues to take on projects with broader appeal, deeper creative potential, and an even larger impact on global audiences.