Full list of Young Rock filming locations in Queensland
From Redcliffe to Coolangatta, Young Rock crews transformed iconic southeast Queensland locations into landmarks of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s young life. See the full list.
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After four months of filming in southeast Queensland, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s comedy series Young Rock has wrapped and is set to hit TV screens across the US next week.
From Redcliffe to Coolangatta, film crews were spotted transforming iconic Queensland locations into landmarks of the American superstar’s life – including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre doubling for Madison Square Garden, the Queensland Art Gallery and Dolphin Stadium for the University of Miami and Gold Coast beaches as Hawaii.
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The 11-part series about Johnson’s formative years had been based at Screen Queensland Studios in Hemmant since early October and wrapped filming on Friday.
While Johnson himself appears in every episode, the actor filmed his part of the series in the US.
KIPPA-RING
With the show airing on NBC across the US from February 16, The Courier-Mail has taken a look back at the disguised Queensland locations to look out for.
In late January film crews used Dolphin Stadium, the home ground for the Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league club, for a number of days to film college football scenes to replicate Johnson’s time playing for the University of Miami.
Local Gridiron Queensland players doubled as college football stars and were tasked with completing contact drills and set plays. A local quarterback also had to throw the perfect pass.
The Courier-Mail also understands film crews used the Brisbane Lions dressing rooms at the Gabba for one day in January to film some cutaway footage.
BOONDALL
It is understood the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall was used to film retro wrestling scenes with Dwayne’s pro-wrestler father Rocky Johnson, played by Joseph Lee Anderson, including a wrestling bout at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York.
The trailer shows a young Dwayne watching his father wrestle as well as some of his famous pro-wrestling chums.
SOUTH BANK
Film crews were spotted outside South Bank’s heritage-listed Queensland Art Gallery building in January.
The building was replicating the University of Miami, where Johnson attended and played college football, in 1990.
A marching band was on set as well as extras dressed as college students and wearing University of Miami paraphernalia.
Actor Dominic Goodman was filming a scene in which his character ran through the band and jumped over a hedge before crouching down to hide.
HERSTON
During the last weekend of January, film crews were spotted inside the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital completing a night shoot on a Saturday. Insiders reported that the crew were using the hospital to film a flashback scene for the series.
SCARBOROUGH
The waterfront Tempest Seafood Restaurant in Scarborough, north of Brisbane, was transformed into an up-market 1980s Hawaiian restaurant called “Lorenzos” for two days of filming in November.
In the trailer, Adrian Groulx, who plays Johnson at 10, is dining at the restaurant with his parents, Rocky and Ata Johnson, and orders tequila.
STRATHPINE
Local Strathpine eatery Carlos Naples Pizza Restaurant, on Lincoln St, became “El Nostimo Pizzeria” during a day of filming in early October.
In the first big sighting of Young Rock film crews, vintage cars lined the street and Bradley Constant, who plays a teenage Johnson, was filming scenes working at the pizza restaurant with a friend.
It caused a stir in the neighbourhood with many locals lining the street to watch.
CAPALABA
The first set spotted in early October was at Wicked Brew cafe on Loraine St, where film crews completed a night shoot.
They set up a temporary bus stop outside the cafe and an old-school phone booth with Bethlehem phone books stacked inside.
Johnson moved from Hawaii to Bethlehem, Nashville, as a teenager.
WYNNUM
In late October gym junkies dressed in shorts and muscle shirts packed the Sports Karate Australia venue.
It doubles as a 1980s bodybuilding gym called Sweat Temple and actor Joseph Lee Anderson was seen as Rocky Johnson for the first time, bringing Adrian Groulx as a young Dwayne along to the gym.
The trailer shows the pair training together inside a gym.
CAMP HILL AND COORPAROO
Film crews used The Tackle Warehouse building in Camp Hill in October.
It is a family-owned Brisbane retailer for the past 20 years and was formerly a Story Bridge toll booth.
An additional film set was around the corner at a brick apartment block called Burke Court on the corner of Burke and Weston St in Coorparoo.
Actors Stacey Leilua and Joseph Lee Anderson, who play Ata and Rocky Johnson, were on set in casual clothes, as was Bradley Constant as teen Dwayne, suggesting the block doubles as their family home.
GOLD COAST:
SANCTUARY COVE
The local Thai House restaurant became a venue called Taste of the Ocean Seafood Restaurant
and Bar for filming in early November.
MAIN BEACH
The former Golden Door Spa and Health Club next to Sheraton Mirage Resort was used to film a retro party scene in early December. Filming also took place inside the neighbouring Marina Mirage shopping Centre.
COOLANGATTA
Froggy’s Beach doubled for 1980s Hawaii with young Dwayne filming scenes on the beach with his parents and their famous wrestling friends including Andre the Giant, played by former NFL player Matthew Willig.
The trailer shows the family having a lunch on the beach. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot the well known green frog in the background of the shot.
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