The Rock's injury delays 'Game Plan'
The Disney movie ``The Game Plan ," which was supposed to start shooting in Boston next week, has postponed production because the star, Dwayne ``The Rock" Johnson , ruptured his Achilles tendon preparing for his role.
Disney announced yesterday the movie is on ice at least until the fall, when Johnson may be nimble enough to portray fictitious NFL quarterback Joe Kingman. A former professional wrestler known for his imposing physique, Johnson, 34, suffered the injury Monday evening while rehearsing one of the film's many football scenes. He is scheduled to have surgery Friday in Miami.
``I approached this role trying to be as true to the character as possible, and the fact is professional athletes train hard and get hurt," Johnson said in a statement yesterday. ``My injury, while serious, is unfortunately common with this type of activity . . . I anticipate that with some TLC, pizza, and a lot of doughnuts, I will be making a speedy recovery."
But the delay does complicate matters. Director Andy Fickman had planned to shoot crowd scenes at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and at Boston College's Alumni Stadium, but the start of football season in September will make that more difficult. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said yesterday that Fickman may be able to film at Gillette in mid-October, when the team is on the road. Alumni Stadium is available only between Sept. 30 and Oct. 12.
``We're doing this as a community service and because it's important to the mayor's office," said BC spokesman Jack Dunn.
Nina Jacobson , president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group , said yesterday there is no chance that Johnson will be replaced. ``While this is a setback for our production schedule, we completely support him as he recuperates and look forward to resuming production when Dwayne is fully recovered," Jacobson said in the Disney statement.
The story of a quarterback who discovers he has a 7-year-old daughter, ``The Game Plan" is being shot in Boston because of tax breaks passed by lawmakers last spring. ``Gone, Baby, Gone ," which Cambridge native Ben Affleck is currently filming around South Boston, also is benefiting from the tax breaks.
Although Johnson is optimistic that he can recover quickly, Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler spent 10 months and two days on the shelf after suffering a similar injury last year. ``I know many people of this city depended on this movie for work," Johnson said, ``and I promise that after surgery, I'll work my butt off in rehab to make this movie happen and to make this city proud."
The actor, who ruptured his Achilles while working out Monday at McDonald Field in Winchester, has been out and about since arriving in Boston last week with his wife, Dany, and daughter, Simone. A regular at the Sports Club/LA downtown, he joined his costars Roselyn Sanchez and 7-year-old Madison Pettis at the closing night of the Royal Ballet's ``Manon ," and dined at Bricco and Prezza in the North End, as well as the Blackfin Chop House & Raw Bar in the Back Bay.
