Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson solidified his star status with roles in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and Fast Five.  In both films The Rock’s presence has resulted in far better box office than the previous movies in those franchises in which the former wrestler-turned actor did not have a role.  This summer Johnson will get a chance at the “franchise-improving” trifecta as he joins the cast of G.I. Joe: Retaliation in an attempt to heat up that lukewarm Hasbro-based franchise.

It’s clear that those in charge of casting at the major studios have noticed the effect that ‘The Rock’s” presence can have in the right film, and the mesomorphic thespian’s movie dance card is quickly filling up.  Variety reports that The Rock will play the classic Greek strongman Hercules in Brett Ratner’s long-gestating adaptation of Steve Moore’s Radical Comics graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian War.

Almost simultaneously Deadline reported that Johnson has signed on to star in another comic book-based film, Ciudad, an intense action thriller based on an upcoming graphic novel from Oni Press written by Joe and Anthony Russo (with Ande Parks).  The Russo brothers will direct Ciudad from a script written by Joe.  Although they have directed one movie, You, Me and Dupree, the Russos are better known for their work on TV series such as Community, Happy Endings, and Arrested Development.  Ciudad, a tough crime drama about a black market mercenary hired to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a Brazilian drug lord, represents something of a departure for the Russos, though not for Johnson, who should be able to ease into the movie’s key role without a hitch.