Dwayne Johnson Promoted to 'Captain Nemo'

McG will direct Disney's remake of its 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which adds Captain Nemo to the end of that title for some reason, and now a Captain Nemo has come aboard. It was believed that McG was interested in Will Smith for the role, but Production Weekly (via IESB) reports that Dwayne Johnson will play the lead, which could prove to be Johnson's best bid for franchise glory. A proven commodity, especially for Disney, Johnson has eschewed tough guy roles for more family friendly action movies over the past couple of years, and this one would certainly fit that mold. Production Weekly also says the studio wants to shoot the film this year, which seems like a pretty quick progression to me. I guess if that schedule is accurate, it gives Disney and McG tons of time for post-production, since it's going to be a 2011 release. Whether or not McG is the right director, and whether or not The Rock can channel James Mason, it's time for a new 20,000 Leagues. It's classic literature, a great story, the opportunity exists for some very cool visuals, and the movie's over 50 years old. I do think Smith would have been a better choice, on the whole, but Johnson saves them at least $15 million. A fugitive whaler teams up with a naturalist, a mysterious woman and a captain of a futuristic submarine, to search for a lost underwater civilization that holds libraries of vast knowledge and a weapon with the power to destroy mankind. (Studio is fast-tracking the project and hopes to make the film this year.)