Picture this: You’re on a blockbuster film set, working with two of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The cameras are rolling, the lights are blazing, and everything’s in place for a movie to remember. But wait—one of the lead actors is consistently showing up hours late, throwing a wrench into the gears of a tight schedule.
Frustration starts to bubble under the surface, and before long, things go from casual to explosive. This wasn’t a scene from Red Notice; it was the real-life drama between Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds.
While the Netflix film managed to find its footing with a star-studded cast and a generous budget, behind the scenes, tensions were brewing. Johnson’s chronic lateness ruffled feathers, leading to a heated exchange that left Reynolds more than a little irked. Now, over two years later, let’s reveal the full picture of what happened between the two.
Dwayne Johnson-Ryan Reynolds feud: The big blow-up on Red Notice
When Red Notice was filmed, everything seemed like a blockbuster waiting to happen—three megastars on screen, a $200 million budget, and a high-profile Netflix release. But behind the scenes, it wasn’t as glitzy. According to reports, Ryan Reynolds became infuriated when Dwayne Johnson showed up “seven to eight” hours late for a shoot (via The Wrap).
For an actor with a strict schedule and high expectations like Reynolds, this was the last straw. The two stars clashed, and, as insiders revealed, the fight wasn’t pretty. Johnson reportedly stormed off the set in anger, and the once-cordial relationship between the two went cold.
At that point, they couldn’t keep things professional anymore. While the media spun this into a tale of a public fallout, things didn’t get worse than that initial argument.
Now, if you think that this was just a one-time thing on Red Notice, think again. Reports from multiple sources paint a troubling picture of Johnson’s work ethic, especially when it comes to showing up on time. His notorious lateness became an open secret within Hollywood, and it’s no surprise that this habit caught up with him. For Red One, The Rock was allegedly arriving seven to eight hours late every day.
Well, it caused chaos. Production crews were forced to improvise around his absence, and the delay escalated costs by at least $50 million. “It was a f–king disaster,” one insider mentioned (per The Wrap).
Dwayne Johnson: How star power triumphs over on-set drama
Despite all the reports and behind-the-scenes chaos, Dwayne Johnson’s career hasn’t exactly suffered. In fact, his star power seems to work wonders for his work schedule. His reputation as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors has allowed him a certain level of leeway on film sets. His consistent box office hits—including the Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and even his role as Maui in Moana—have solidified him as a massive draw at the box office.
And as we all know, when you make studios money, they tend to overlook a lot of things.
Even after his late arrival during One, Johnson continued to rake in millions. Dwayne Johnson raked in $88 million in 2024, securing his spot as the highest-paid actor in the world. This impressive paycheck came despite the fact that his highly ambitious holiday film, Red One, didn’t quite hit the mark at the box office.
And note that Johnson has a history of making amends with co-stars. His highly publicized feud with Vin Diesel, dating back to Fast & Furious 8, was one for the books.
Now, it’s possible that, in the future, Johnson and Ryan Reynolds could team up again for another project. But, hopefully, this time, the movie’s behind-the-scenes story will be less dramatic than their first encounter.
Watch Red Notice on Netflix.
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