Hollywood legend and hydration enthusiast Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is taking a break from being everywhere all at once to address some bizarre rumors about his on-set habits during the filming of his new movie, Red One. And these are no ordinary Hollywood rumors; they’re a weird mix of budget-busting lateness and… bottle-peeing?
Here’s the scoop: a bombshell April 2024 report claimed that Red One spiraled into a $250 million production because The Rock was as “chronically late” as a 2000s pop star to her own concert. Allegedly, his tardiness added a whopping $50 million to the budget. According to some dramatic on-set tea, he was up to eight hours late and even missed full days, leaving the crew shooting around his schedule. Oh, and the cherry on top: apparently, The Rock is allegedly filling up empty water bottles in a way only Bear Grylls would approve of.
The Rock Speaks: “Yeah, I Pee in Bottles, But C’mon!”
The Rock didn’t shy away from the juicy bottle gossip. “I pee in a bottle. Yeah. That happens,” he confessed to GQ, because what better place to share your DIY restroom hacks than in a high-fashion magazine. But let’s be clear—while The Rock may occasionally give Aquafina a surprise remix, he denied the lateness allegations with a firm “That’s bananas.” Eight hours? According to The Rock, that’s a legend only worthy of a bedtime story for aspiring actors. “Ridiculous,” he huffed.
But who are we kidding? You need a little more evidence than just a few words to get to the bottom of this.
Director Jake Kasdan Has Entered the Chat
Enter Red One director Jake Kasdan, a man who’s apparently experienced more Rock-led productions than most people have sat through Fast & Furious sequels. “He’s never missed a day of work, ever. He has a lot going on. He can be late sometimes, but such is Hollywood—that’s the case with everybody,” Kasdan said, making The Rock sound more like a dude who’s casually late for brunch, not a serial set-misser. “Honestly, I’ve made three big movies with him. I’ve never seen him be anything but great to every single person on the set.”
In Hollywood terms, that’s basically like saying, “This man is a saint. Give him a golden star and unlimited bathroom passes.”
Chris Evans Weighs In, Defends The Rock Like Captain America
Co-star and designated voice of reason Chris Evans (yes, Captain America himself) chimed in to defend his buddy. “In terms of the guy that I saw, compared to some of the things I’ve seen on other movies with other actors who are not only not conscious of other people’s time and efforts, but they’re unpredictable? I found Dwayne to be—we all know exactly what he’s going to do when he’s going to do it.” Translation: The Rock might take a while to show up, but at least he’s consistent.
Evans even noted that Johnson’s morning workouts (because what’s a day without lifting weights the size of small cars?) were baked into the production schedule like grandma’s secret cookie recipe. “I wouldn’t even call it late. He comes in slightly later on certain mornings, but it’s part of the plan. It’s worked into the schedules and everyone knows it,” he added. In Evans’ eyes, The Rock is more like a punctual powerhouse with a flexible arrival time.
The Rock’s Final Word: “Come and Ask Me”
To wrap things up, Dwayne Johnson had one last message for the rumor mill: “I’ve said a thousand times: ‘Hey, I’m here. Come and ask me. And I’ll tell you the truth.’” Translation: If anyone wants to know his daily schedule, workout tips, or the truth about his water bottle habits, he’s open for interviews—just don’t get weird.
Red One hits theaters this Friday, and, while the film might have cost a pretty penny, it turns out The Rock’s bathroom breaks and “chronic lateness” were much more about schedules than scandals. Besides, if Hollywood’s biggest action hero can’t be fashionably late to his own blockbuster, what hope is there for the rest of us?
