The Rock To Be Named Disney Legend At D23 2026

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is set to receive one of the entertainment industry’s most prestigious honors this coming weekend, as the WWE Hall of Fame-bound star officially joins the Disney Legends class of 2026 during D23. The ceremony will be recorded live at the event before streaming on Disney+ starting at 6 PM PT on Sunday, August 16, giving fans who can’t attend in person a chance to watch Johnson receive the honor from home.

Disney first revealed Johnson as part of this year’s Legends class back in March, citing both his massive entertainment career and his long relationship with the company. While Johnson has become one of the biggest names in Hollywood since leaving the ring full-time, his ties to Disney run especially deep through the Moana franchise, where he voices the demigod Maui. Johnson originated the role in the first animated film, reprised it for Moana 2, and has also brought the character to life in Disney’s live-action remake.

In detailing why Johnson earned the honor, Disney leaned into the now-familiar story of his rise — famously having just seven dollars in his pocket at one of the lowest points before turning his fortunes around. That turnaround, of course, started in professional wrestling, where Johnson became one of WWE’s most electric attractions before parlaying that stardom into a Hollywood career that has produced more than $15 billion in worldwide box office receipts, according to Disney’s own figures.

Johnson’s film career took off with his portrayal of the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns, a role that led directly to a starring spin-off in 2002 and set him on the path to becoming one of the industry’s most reliable leading men. More recently, he took a sharp turn toward dramatic work with The Smashing Machine, in which he portrayed former UFC fighter and wrestler Mark Kerr. The transformation required more than 20 prosthetic pieces and ultimately earned Johnson a Golden Globe nomination — a notable achievement for a performer often associated with big-budget action fare.

Looking ahead, Johnson is reuniting with Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie for a project called Lizard Music, in which he’ll play an eccentric character known as Chicken Man. He’s also attached to a Martin Scorsese film alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt, further cementing his push into more prestige-driven work.

For the wrestling world, Johnson’s induction as a Disney Legend is another reminder of just how far his post-WWE career has traveled. Few performers have managed to leverage wrestling stardom into this level of mainstream, family-friendly cultural relevance, and his continued presence in franchises like Moana keeps him visible to audiences who may have no connection to his in-ring legacy at all. It’s also a notable contrast to the more dramatic, physically transformative roles he’s taken on recently, showing a range that extends well beyond the blockbuster action image he built over the past two decades.

Johnson will formally join the Disney Legends ranks at D23 2026, with the ceremony airing on Disney+ this Sunday evening.