]Young Rock
★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
- Release Date: February 16, 2021 – February 24, 2023
- Seasons / Episodes: 3 Seasons (37 Episodes)
- Genre: Comedy, Biography, Sitcom
- Creators: Dwayne Johnson, Nahnatchka Khan
- Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, Uli Latukefu, Stacey Leilua, Joseph Lee Anderson
Quick Verdict
Young Rock delivers a warm, energetic, and nostalgic deep dive into the formative years of pop-culture icon Dwayne Johnson. Blending traditional sitcom warmth with high-octane pro-wrestling nostalgia, the series strikes a satisfying balance between larger-than-life spectacle and heartfelt family dynamics. While the fictionalized 2032 presidential campaign framing occasionally stumbles, the three-era timeline keeps the storytelling fresh, dynamic, and consistently funny.
Story
Told through the framing device of Dwayne Johnson’s 2032 run for President of the United States, the series weaves together three distinct chapters of his upbringing: childhood in Hawaii surrounded by flamboyant pro-wrestlers, awkward high school years in Pennsylvania, and grueling college football days with the Miami Hurricanes. The interlinked narrative explores how triumph, poverty, wrestling lineage, and family sacrifice forged one of the modern world’s biggest entertainment figures.
Performances
Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, and Uli Latukefu share an uncanny synergy as young Dwayne across different eras, each capturing his charm, vulnerability, and signature smirk.
Joseph Lee Anderson shines as the charismatic and prideful Rocky “Soulman” Johnson, delivering both boundless energy and poignant emotional weight.
Stacey Leilua grounds the series as Ata Johnson, serving as the steady emotional backbone and moral compass of the household.
Ana Tuisila steals every scene she touches as the fiercely shrewd wrestling promoter grandmother, Lia Maivia.
PRODUCTION & PERIOD DESIGN
Meticulous recreations of golden-era WWF wrestling rings and colorful backroom territories.
High-energy 1980s and 1990s period costuming, hair, and automotive design.
Realistic football choreography capturing collegiate-level intensity in the Miami Hurricanes sequences.
Spot-on homages to wrestling legends like André the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, and The Iron Sheik.
What Works
- Seamless transitions and strong casting continuity across all three young Dwayne eras.
- Heartfelt tribute to old-school pro wrestling culture and locker-room camaraderie.
- Genuine emotional core driven by Rocky and Ata Johnson’s resilience.
- Sharp comedic timing, witty banter, and self-deprecating humor from The Rock.
- Authentic depiction of immigrant-family perseverance and financial struggles.
What Doesn't
- The futuristic 2032 presidential campaign framing often feels gimmicky and unnecessary.
- Pacing can feel disjointed when jumping between three separate timelines in a single half-hour.
- Certain guest wrestling cameos rely more on caricatured mimicry than grounded character work.
Final Verdict
Young Rock succeeds by prioritizing genuine heart, humility, and family loyalty over simple celebrity worship. It is a vibrant, accessible coming-of-age sitcom that pays affectionate homage to classic professional wrestling while offering fans an earnest look at the grit and lessons behind the megastar.
RATING BOX
Story
(4.5/5)
Performance
(5/5)
Acting
(4/5)
Visuals
(4/5)
Production
(5/5)
OVERALL SCORE
4.2/5
Highly Recommended
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BEST MOVIE QUOTES
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. My dad told me that a long time ago, and it stayed with me through every arena and every set.”
— Dwayne Johnson • Season 1
“You gotta work hard, Dewey. The crowd can tell when you’re faking it, but they always respect genuine sweat.”
— Rocky Johnson • Season 1
“In this business, respect isn’t handed to you. It is taken in the ring and earned behind the curtain.”
— Lia Maivia • Season 1
“Every eviction, every lost match, every time we had seven bucks in our pockets—it wasn’t the end of the story. It was the setup.”
— Dwayne Johnson • Season 2
“Always remember who you are, Dewey. You’re a Johnson, you’re a Maivia, and you never let anyone outwork you.”
— Rocky Johnson • Season 2
“We might not have everything right now, but we have each other. As long as you keep your heart in the right place, things will turn around.”
— Ata Johnson • Season 1
BEHIND THE SCENES
On-Set Stories & Production Secrets
Casting the Three Eras of Dewey
Finding actors to play Dwayne Johnson at ages 10, 15, and 18–20 required extensive global searches, with Uli Latukefu undergoing intense weight training and vocal cadence coaching directly supervised by Johnson to nail his college football and early wrestling days.
Old-School Wrestling Bootcamps
Former WWE and indie wrestling veterans trained the actors portraying legends like André the Giant, Randy Savage, and Rocky Johnson, drilling authentic 1980s territory-style ring psychology, safe ring bumps, and vintage promo delivery.
The Johnson Family Vaults
Dwayne Johnson provided showrunner Nahnatchka Khan with original childhood family polaroids, actual 1980s wrestling gear patterns, and personal journal entries to ensure the sets, vehicles, and retro wardrobe matched his upbringing with exact historical fidelity.
FILMING LOCATION
GLOBE-SPANNING PRODUCTION
Key Filming Locations
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
Screen Queensland Production Hub
The primary production base for Seasons 1 and 2, housing soundstage builds for Dewey’s childhood apartments, locker rooms, Lia Maivia’s office, and 2032 presidential interview suites.
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast Beaches Doubling as Hawaii
Pristine subtropical shorelines and palm-lined avenues across the Gold Coast and Coolangatta doubled for 1980s Honolulu, capturing young Dewey’s upbringing around Polynesian wrestling culture.
MORETON BAY, AUSTRALIA
Redcliffe Stadium & Miami Hurricanes Gridiron
Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium doubled for the Orange Bowl and Miami practice fields, staging high-impact college football scrimmages during Dwayne’s defensive lineman days.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
Memphis Wrestling Circuit & Midtown Streets
The production moved on-location to Memphis for Season 3, utilizing city streets and soundstages near Graceland to recreate Downtown Bruno’s flea-market wrestling promotion.
WHERE TO WATCH TV SHOW?
AVAILABILITY & PLATFORMS
Where to Watch Young Rock
AVAILABILITY & PLATFORMS
Where to Watch Young Rock
SUBSCRIPTION STREAMING
Peacock
Catalog: Full streaming rights for Seasons 1 through 3 available on-demand
Quality: Crisp 1080p Full HD and 4K Ultra HD playback with closed captioning
BUY DIGITAL SEASONS
Apple TV, Prime Video & Google TV
Options: Purchase individual comedy episodes or complete season passes (Seasons 1–3)
Access: Permanent digital library ownership playable across smart TVs, mobile, and tablets
PHYSICAL MEDIA
Season & Series DVD Editions
Format: Multi-disc DVD season releases covering the complete three-season sitcom arc
Bonus Content: Gag reels, deleted scenes, and exclusive family retrospective shorts
COMMENTS
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