Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is teaming up with journalist Nick Bilton to write a true-crime book, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The professional-wrestler-turned-movie-star and his co-author have sold their untitled nonfiction book about a Hawaiian mob boss to Crown.
This will be the first book by Johnson, the WWE star known for his roles in films including The Scorpion King, Rampage, and Moana. Bilton, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, is the author of the books Hatching Twitter and American Kingpin.
Their book will tell the story of Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa, the leader of the Company, a Hawaiian gang that engaged in heroin dealing, gambling, and extortion from the 1960s to the 1990s. Bilton iswriting a screenplay about Pulawa for a film that will be directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is set to star Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt.
“This isn’t just a gangster story; it’s about power, identity, and what was taken from the Hawaiian people,” Johnson said. “What drew me to this project wasn’t just the action and the intensity; for me, this story hits close to home.” Johnson, who is part Samoan American, has family roots in Hawaii, and lived there for a time when he was in high school.
Bilton said, “It’s exactly the type of true story that draws me in most, one where you can’t easily separate heroes from villains, and every character forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew about right and wrong.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
