Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s viral baby video was ‘PR masterstroke’ ahead of Black Adam release-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s viral video, which saw him inexplicably being handed a baby on stage in front of crowds of people, was a ‘masterstroke’ move ahead of his film Black Adam, a PR expert has said.

The actor is currently on a promo tour for the upcoming DC movie and, while he was speaking to a crowd in Mexico, a baby girl was passed through the throngs of people to reach him.

He shared a video of the tot, named Luciana, on Instagram, adding: ‘Whatever this moment meant for her emotional father – means it meant something special for me too.’

Speaking to Metro.co.uk about how the moment might impact The Rock’s image before the release of the film, Paul MacKenzie-Cummins, Managing Director of Clearly PR said: ‘This is a masterstroke piece of PR ahead of the film’s release. The very fact we’re talking about what happens proves this.

‘Johnson is currently the world’s highest paid actor and with that comes an expectation that whatever film he appears in or product he endorses will be equally as successful. In his case, this has proven to be absolutely on the money.

‘It isn’t always so, of course. The DC film franchise has struggled of late, failing to produce that much-needed blockbuster despite the calibre of stars associated with some of its more recent projects. A rival to Marvel it is not.

‘But Dwayne Johnson’s influence and the expected success of Black Adam as a direct result of his involvement in it could change all that.’

Dwayne was inexplicably handed a baby (Picture: Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

The actor said he feels like he was ‘born for the role’ of Black Adam (Picture: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

MacKenzie-Cummins added: ‘The more the movie-going public see him in a non-movie context, such as being handed a baby from the crowd, the greater their affection towards him and loyalty to “brand Johnson”.

‘The Dwayne Johnson we saw clutching onto wee Luciana is the Dwayne Johnson we feel we “know” – he is being himself and not playing to the crowd.

‘It works because it simply reinforces his well-known public image of a loving dad of three daughters rather than striking an off note. If, for example, he was a womanising lothario with a string of unacknowledged children (like some celebs!), it would be hypocritical!

‘This enamors him to many people who in turn will show their admiration in the form of buying tickets for his latest film and ensuring it becomes a box office success.’

Black Adam follows the antihero who is unleashed onto modern times after 5,000 years of imprisonment. He’s discovered by the Justice Society of America, who attempt to show him how to use his powers for good rather than evil.

Dwayne previously said of the film: ‘This character, this film, this universe, has been a gigantic passion project of mine for a very long time.

‘It’s the kind of project I know comes along once in a lifetime. The truth is, I was born to play Black Adam.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Dwayne Johnson for comment.

Black Adam is set for release on October 21.

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