Dwayne Johnson has revealed that he has no plans to abandon his long-held ambition of making his Broadway debut, even though his proposed production with longtime friend Kevin Hart has been delayed by scheduling conflicts.
According to Deadline, the Golden Globe nominee said he has spent nearly three years developing plans for a Broadway appearance. Johnson said he and Hart had hoped to star together in Neil Simon’s classic comedy The Odd Couple, with theatre producer Jeffrey Seller, but Hart’s packed work schedule has prevented the project from moving forward.
“We should’ve been great. Kevin is my best friend. I love him to death, and the truth is he’s so booked for the next three to five years,” Johnson said. “That’s his schedule, that’s a reality. I totally get it. And I love it and I respect him for that. We do Jumanji, which we’ll promote at the end of the year, but I’m not letting that dream go.”
Written by Neil Simon, The Odd Couple premiered on Broadway in 1965. The story follows the unlikely friendship between the meticulous Felix Ungar and the easygoing Oscar Madison as mismatched roommates. It was later adapted into a 1968 film and an ABC television series that aired for five seasons between 1970 and 1975.
Johnson said he, Seller and director Thomas Kail are now exploring other possibilities for a stage production. He added that it could still become The Odd Couple, or perhaps even a musical.
“So we’ll see, but maybe it’s The Odd Couple with Jeffrey. I don’t know, maybe it’s a musical and I could run around singing in keys that don’t exist. I might do a little dance. I might snatch my waist a little bit. We’ll see,” he joked.
Johnson recently reprised his voice role as Maui in Thomas Kail’s live-action adaptation of Moana, following his performance in Disney’s 2016 animated musical.
He is also set to reunite with Hart on screen in Jumanji: Open World, which is scheduled to open in cinemas during the Christmas 2026 holiday season.
