Hollywood loves a good bromance, but the one between Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Ryan Reynolds is... complicated. Honestly, if you just watch their movies or scroll through their Instagram feeds, you'd think they were best friends who spend their weekends trading gym tips and marketing strategies.
They’ve known each other for over 20 years. They both have massive spirits, even bigger bank accounts, and a shared knack for turning "being themselves" into a billion-dollar global brand. But beneath the polished surface of Netflix trailers and gin commercials, the reality of their partnership has been a rollercoaster of record-breaking success and reported behind-the-scenes friction that nearly derailed one of the biggest streaming hits in history.
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The Red Notice Rift: 5 Hours and a Massive Fight
You’ve probably seen Red Notice. It’s basically the "Maximum Effort" version of an Indiana Jones movie, featuring the world’s most charming art thief (Reynolds) and the world’s sturdiest FBI profiler (Johnson). It was a gargantuan hit for Netflix, pulling in over 364 million hours viewed in its first month.
But making it was apparently a nightmare.
Reports surfaced in 2024—long after the film's release—detailing a "huge fight" between the two stars. The core of the issue? Punctuality. Or a lack thereof. According to insiders from The Wrap and TMZ, Johnson has a reputation for being chronically late. On the Red Notice set, he reportedly showed up five hours late one day.
Reynolds, who is famously meticulous about his time and his "Maximum Effort" production schedule, didn't take it well. He reportedly confronted Johnson, leading to a heated argument. Sources say the two didn't speak for years after the incident.
Why the Feud Matters in 2026
While they eventually reconciled (Hollywood is small, after all), this tension highlights the clash of two very different professional philosophies:
- The Rock's Method: A massive, sprawling operation where he is the sun and everything else orbits him, often resulting in "Rock Time."
- The Reynolds Method: A lean, fast-moving, "ad-agency style" approach where every minute is calculated for ROI.
Business Kings: Who Actually Wins the Money Game?
When we talk about Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, we aren't just talking about actors anymore. We're talking about venture capitalists with IMDB pages.
The Rock has Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila (which is on track to be a multi-billion dollar brand), and ZOA Energy. He’s the guy who buys the XFL (now UFL) just because it's Tuesday.
Reynolds, meanwhile, is the king of the "Equity Flip." He doesn't just take a salary; he takes a piece of the company.
- Aviation Gin: Sold to Diageo in a deal worth up to $610 million.
- Mint Mobile: T-Mobile acquired it for $1.35 billion in 2023. Reynolds reportedly walked away with a windfall of roughly $330 million.
- Wrexham AFC: He turned a struggling Welsh soccer club into a global media sensation, proving he can market literally anything.
By 2026, the gap in their net worth is narrowing. Johnson still leads with an estimated $800 million+, but Reynolds is sitting comfortably at $350 million with far fewer hours spent in a makeup chair.
The Fate of Red Notice 2
Everyone wants to know: where is the sequel?
It's been "in development" forever. In early 2025, reports suggested that while a script for Red Notice 2 exists, scheduling is the true villain. You have to coordinate three of the busiest people on the planet—Reynolds, Johnson, and Gal Gadot.
As of right now, production isn't expected to start until late 2026 or even 2027. This means we won't see the trio back together on screen until 2028 at the earliest. The delay is partly due to Reynolds' commitment to the MCU (following the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine) and Johnson’s return to the Fast & Furious franchise as Luke Hobbs.
Actionable Insights: The "Power Duo" Playbook
What can we actually learn from these two? Beyond the blockbusters, they’ve provided a blueprint for career longevity in the 2020s.
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- Own Your IP: Both men realized early that being a "hired gun" actor is a losing game. They produce their own films, which gives them control over the narrative and a larger slice of the profits.
- Personality is the Product: Whether it's The Rock's "hardest worker in the room" persona or Reynolds' "sarcastic but relatable dad" vibe, they never break character.
- The Power of Reconciliation: Despite the Red Notice drama, they patched things up. In business, holding a grudge is expensive. They know that a Red Notice sequel is worth more to their brands than winning an argument about lateness.
If you’re tracking their next moves, keep an eye on their social feeds. In 2026, a "surprise" collab between Teremana and Aviation Gin is the kind of crossover that would break the internet—and their accountants' calculators.
To stay ahead of their next projects, you should monitor the production schedules for Fast X: Part 2 and the upcoming Deadpool expansion in the Avengers films, as these will be the primary roadblocks to seeing them share a screen again.