Dwayne Johnson addresses claims about his behavior on the Red One set that allegedly ballooned the budget. The film’s budget and early reception raise questions about its success prospects.
It reported that Johnson’s actions on the set of Red One, like urinating in bottles and being frequently late, caused the budget to rise from $200 million to $250 million. In an interview, Johnson admits to some of the claims, like the bottle-peeing, but disputes the extent of his tardiness.
Director Jake Kasdan and costar Chris Evans defend Johnson. Kasdan says he never missed a workday, and Evans notes Johnson was more considerate than some other costars. Johnson’s morning workouts, cited as a reason for lateness, were actually part of the shooting schedule.
With a $250 million budget, Red One would need to gross between $500 million and $625 million to break even. Johnson’s box office track record is mixed, with Black Adam underwhelming and Jumanji: The Next Level a hit. Early reviews of Red One are negative, but overseas numbers are promising.
Whether audiences care about Johnson’s on-set behavior is doubtful. Will Smith’s post-Oscars incident shows that such issues may not impact a film’s audience engagement. Overall, Red One’s success remains to be seen.
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