The Rock Films Movie In Chicago, Closes Downtown Streets This Weekend

CHICAGO, IL — It's been a while since wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was using his in-ring catch phrase, "Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?" on a regular basis. But it's a question that Chicago residents could be asking this weekend as the star of "The Baywach" and the "Fast and Furious" franchise films his next movie downtown this weekend, causing street closings and Hollywood-releated helicopter fly-bys.

Johnson will be downtown filming "Rampage," a "giant monsters attack!" movie based on the popular 1980s video game, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. While no actual giant monsters will be rampaging throughout the city, the Chicago Department of Transportation says the film crew might need to shut down some city road for short, 15-minute intervals Saturday and Sunday, the report added. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The movie also will be closing some streets for longer periods Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, the report stated. The following roadways will be affected, according to the Sun-Times:

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

• Dearborn Street, between Jackson Boulevard and Monroe Street
• Jackson Boulevard, between State and Clark streets

9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday

• Michigan Avenue, between Oak and Erie streets

11 a.m. to Noon Saturday

• Wacker Drive, between Wabash Avenue and Lake Street

Low-flying helicopters will be responsible for the 15-minute closures, and they are expected to happen between 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday, affecting Michigan Avenue, between Superior and Wacker Drive, the Sun-Times reports.

The transportation department is advising drivers and cyclists to use alternative routes during these times, the report stated. If they're traveling north to Dearborn, they can use State or LaSalle. People going west to Dearborn can use Madison Street, the report added.

Given the movie's subject matter, Chicagoans and future movie-goers should expect to see major devastation and end-of-the-world destruction along downtown streets on par with Michael Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" from 2011.

"Rampage" is directed by Brad Peyton, who previously directed Johnson in "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and "San Andreas," and also stars Malin Akerman, Naomie Harris, Joe Manganiello and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It's scheduled to hit theaters April 20, 2018.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at the US premiere for "Baywatch" on May 13 in Miami Beach. (Photo by Omar Vega | Associated Press)

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