Oscars 2026: Will Dwayne Johnson Receive a Best Actor Nomination?
Oscars 2026: Will Dwayne Johnson Receive a Best Actor Nomination?
Dwayne Johnson has enjoyed a unique and varied entertainment career. He started playing college football for the University of Miami, helping the team win a national championship in 1991, before signing with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 1995.
However, Johnson’s football career was cut short, causing him to turn to professional wrestling and join the WWF/WWE in 1996, adopting the alter ego “The Rock”.
After eight years of full-time wrestling, he transitioned to acting, starring in various hit films, such as The Mummy Returns (2001), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), Moana (2011), and Moana 2 (2024).
He is now one of the highest-paid and highest-grossing actors in the world, but he has yet to win an Academy Award. However, many believe his latest film, The Smashing Machine, could help the 53-year-old bag his first Oscar.
Keep reading to learn if Dwayne Johnson is likely to receive a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Academy Awards.
The trajectory of the odds for this BEO bet indicate it is most probable Dwayne Johnson will not receive a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Oscars ::: Discover the latest Bet Entertainment Odds predictions for this market.
Dwayne Johnson May Face Tough Competition
It is difficult to predict if an actor or actress will receive an Academy Award nomination until a film is released and critics’ reviews are rolling in.
While Oscar buzz is generating for Dwayne Johnson’s first dramatic role as real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, BEO betting odds are showing he is unlikely to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
As he is often viewed as more of an entertainer or wrestler than an actor, the Academy might be hesitant to vote in his favor.
Also, 2025 is jam-packed full of exciting films, meaning he might face tough competition in the category.
For instance, critics and movie lovers expect great things from Timothee Chalamet in Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, and Jeremy Allen White in Deliver Me from Nowhere, to name a few contenders.
Oscar Buzz is Building
While Dwayne Johnson faces tough competition and stigma, a standout performance in a critically acclaimed film could lead to a Best Actor nomination.
His portrayal of Mark Kerr marks a departure from his comedic roles, allowing audiences to see another side to his acting skills.
If the trailer is anything to go by, the 53-year-old actor has embraced the role with both hands, embodying the real-life MMA fighter and his struggles.
Also, he is joined on screen by Oscar-nominee Emily Blunt, adding further credibility to the movie and Johnson’s performance.
It appears he might be at the stage in his career where he has the confidence to take on more serious roles.
For example, he recently told Variety, “I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”
It appears he is eager to move away from feel-good comedies and family-friendly flicks and embark on more challenging roles, as he is expected to appear in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Hawaii crime thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and his co-star Emily Blunt.
So, if he doesn’t secure a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards in 2026, he might receive a nod one day in the future. Watch this space!
