Biopics and biographical series remain very popular genres in both big and small screens. “Bohemian Rhapsody” from 2018 is unlikely to be forgotten soon, and over in Netflix “Selena: The Series” is offering a more lengthy multi-episode look at the life of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez similar to the 1997 film that starred Jennifer Lopez. Now-retired WWE Superstar Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, is up next with a sitcom about his life soon to premiere on NBC next month. Said show will reveal some new tidbits about the early days of the would-be pro-wrestling icon and actor, including stuff like another nickname of his.

Even after establishing himself in Hollywood and ultimately retiring from the WWE, Dwayne Johnson is still The Rock, the People’s Champion to many. But as shared by USA Today, he also has one moniker from his pre-Rock days, as would be revealed in “Young Rock,” the upcoming NBC biographical sitcom about Johnson with the man himself as show-runner alongside Nahnatchka Khan. Apparently, while he was growing up Dwayne was more often called “Dewey” by his parents. The reason: a conversation between his mother Ata Johnson and his godmother about his diapers at age 6 months. Wet diaper? No, just “dewy.”

“In my existence for years, when my parents would come around in front of my girlfriends or friends or anyone, (it was), ‘Hey, Dewey!’ automatically,” Johnson tells it at a Zoom panel for “Young Rock” with the Television Critics Association this past Tuesday, January 26. Apparently his parents liked the nickname for how “non-powerful” it was, a point reinforced by one online panelist replying to Dwayne “OK, Dewey,” and another remarking that it sounded cute.

“Young Rock” will start with an 11-episode inaugural season that cover’s Dwayne Johnson’s childhood and teenage years. No less than three young actors will portray him: Adrian Groulx at 10 years old, Bradley Constant at 15, and finally Uli Latukefu at 18. The Rock himself will be in each episode as presenter-narrator; and the sitcom, while having laughs, will also explore Johnson’s relationship with his father Rocky Johnson, who was part of the pre-WWE “World Wrestling Federation” from 1982 to 85, and died in January last year, aged 75. Rocky will be portrayed by Joseph Lee Anderson in the show, and the younger Johnson believes his father would have really liked how “Young Rock” will tell their story. The sitcom arrives on NBC February 16.

Image: ComicBook.com