A 72-second teaser for a potential new Popeye film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has gone viral on social media, thanks to FoxStar Media’s release on YouTube. The trailer has grandiose speech, pirate ships crossing turbulent waves, and a sandy cove. It is purported to be a teaser for a live-action Popeye movie that will be released in 2024.
With a title card announcing “Popeye The Sailor Man” and a hashtag for the rumored film, the video ends, leaving fans excited about the possible film debut of the recognizable spinach-loving sailor.
Tartakovsky’s Genndy’s Popeye Dream
Filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky had long harbored the desire to make a Popeye movie, saying in May 2020 on SlashFilm that he felt “destined” to adapt the character for the big screen. But in 2015, Tartakovsky’s animated Popeye project encountered obstacles when disagreements with the studio arose regarding the character’s modernity. The director was very passionate about the character, but the project was stuck in development hell.
Disproving the Trailer
Unfortunately, a closer look at the viral clip reveals it to be a fake. The trailer is unauthentic since it uses clips from several Hollywood hits from the last 15 years, such as Dwayne Johnson’s Jungle Cruise (2021). Interestingly, any expectations of a true Popeye film are dashed by a scene that features Johnny Depp’s Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) and moments from Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg’s Uncharted (2022). The deceptive video purposefully mixes together unrelated footage to refute rumors that The Rock will star in a Popeye movie in 2024.
Possibilities for a Popeye Live-Action Film
King Features now owns the Popeye rights, and since the last Popeye movie attempt was shelved, there doesn’t seem to be much chance of a live-action version. In addition, Dwayne Johnson’s busy schedule—which includes many film commitments—raises questions over his availability for this kind of work. The actor’s next projects include Fast & Furious 11 in 2025, the Christmas adventure movie Red One with Chris Evans, and executive producing a live-action Moana retelling. Red Notice 2 is a 2021 film that is currently under development, which adds to Johnson’s busy schedule.
The Popeye movie trailer that went viral isn’t authentic, and there’s no reason to believe that a legitimate live-action version starring Dwayne Johnson will happen in 2024. Given Johnson’s packed schedule and the lack of hard proof that the film ever happened, any project including Popeye is just that—speculative and far off.
In real life, who is Popeye the Sailor Man?Frank “Rocky” Fiegel was born in Poland in 1868, and as a young child, he and his parents came to the United States. The family made their home in a tiny Illinois hamlet. Rocky later decided to pursue a career at sea, serving in the Merchant Marines for 20 years as a sailor until retiring.Why did Popeye get his nickname?His job was cleaning and he was also a bouncer. He got into fights a lot and got the moniker “Popeye” because of the way his blows hurt his eye. His repeated triumphs in these fights made him a local hero over time.
