Today's debut of the Disney flick "The Game Plan" fulfills a handful of longtime goals for World Wrestling Entertainment superstar-turned-cinema-star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

First off, it's the muscular action hero's first-ever lead role in a comedy. Second, it's his first film for the family-lovin' mouse house that gave the world "High School Musical," "Hannah Montana" and "Freaky Friday." And finally, with "The Game Plan," Johnson gets the triple joy of playing a professional football player, a daddy and a fan of all things Elvis Presley all in the same movie.

The film has Johnson playing Joe Kingman, a charismatic if self-absorbed star quarterback who opens the door of his palatial bachelor pad one day to find the adorable face of the 8-year-old daughter he never knew (played by similarly-aged feature-film newcomer Madison Pettis) staring up at him. Over the next 110 minutes, Kingman learns enough comedic life lessons to make his morph from egotistical boor to cuddly big daddy and born-again team player goofily believable, if a tad formulaic.

The partially Honolulu-raised Johnson called from Los Angeles last week to chat about "The Game Plan," being a real-life dad, the McKinley High School football photo he'll never live down and the status of the long-delayed big-screen King Kamehameha biopic he still hopes to make.

From grinning narcissistic professional football player at the start to grinning choral leader channeling Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" at film's end, you look like you had a lot of real fun doing "The Game Plan."

I did. This was the most fun I have ever had shooting a movie. ... Without a doubt. Hands down. ... For a number of reasons. ... As a former football player, of course, for McKinley and then going on to play for the University of Miami, I had dreams of being in the NFL, like a lot of football players in Hawai'i do. When that wasn't realized for me, and when I essentially failed at that, this was — in a pretty ironic way — things coming around full circle. ... I was able to get on the field, play quarterback ...

Play star quarterback.

(Chuckles) ... Be the star quarterback and essentially go to the Super Bowl, become MVP and win the heart of a little 8-year-old girl who calls me "Daddy." That was one reason. Then — just in terms of having fun — (getting) to do a big comedy like this. I had done comedies in the past. But I (wanted) to do a big comedy that appealed to a wide range of ages. ...

The story for "The Game Plan" is kind of a tried-and-true Hollywood game plan itself. A very single-and-loving-it dad gets stuck with a child he never knew and has to instantly deal. Knowing that, what intrigued you enough about the script to want to do it?

It is very formulaic in its essence. ... (But) the story intrigued me. ... I loved the idea of, very simply, a man who has everything he ever dreamed of having but at the same time, ironically, (is) lonely. He hasn't really experienced true love. But he discovers that in the form of a little ... girl who calls him "Daddy."

I loved the idea of a man who realizes that life isn't about materialistic things. Even though (Joe) has millions of dollars, he would gladly give everything up for the love of his little girl. I love that, as much as we have seen that. ...

And being a proud daddy and always a concerned daddy about not only my own little girl (6-year-old Simone Alexandra) but of all of our children, that recipe ... just attracted me to no end.

Could you have done as well with a character like this before you were a father?

I could've done it. The performance would not have been the same. ...

I was very fortunate and very lucky because the relationship I have with my little daughter continues to grow (and) continues to prosper. But at the same time, you have to work on it. ...

Being a dad, I'm challenged in ways, frankly, that I could never ever imagine I'd ever be challenged. And it's through those challenges that you learn. Any parent out there knows that you never stop learning being a parent. It's always a work in progress.

Through all those learned experiences, I was able to bring a lot of that — all of that, frankly — to the character. Joe Kingman is at first unbelievably, extraordinarily selfish. And then, by the end of the movie, he realizes and he understands the value of being selfless.

I've been on both ends of that. Growing up in Hawai'i, being an only child, being very selfish, getting in all kinds of trouble. And then, coming full circle to understanding what it's like to be selfless. Understanding what it's like to literally live your life for other people.

Being a dad and having a family is my mindset (now). So that's how it would've been different. ... I could've done it. It would've been funny. But the emotion would not have been the same.

Are any of those football photos of you in "The Game Plan" opening credits from your McKinley days?

Dude ... there is one picture there that is still, to this day, referred to as "The Rock/Menudo" picture. I'm in black, it's taken on the field at McKinley High School, I've got the McKinley jersey on, and it was when I was a freshman and I had that ridiculous freshman mustache.

The one 14-year-old boys are deathly afraid to shave off for fear it might never grow back?

(Laughs) Yeah, that was taken in Hawai'i. There were a couple of good pictures taken from Hawai'i (in "The Game Plan"). My mom provided all those pictures. The production was thrilled that we were able to get all that.

People here still ask about the King Kamehameha biopic you've long said you wanted to film. What's the status on it? Is it still an important project for you?

Absolutely. ... It's still with Sony (Pictures). It is still very active, still very alive and still my passion project. And it's just a matter of timing.

"Kamehameha" is something that my agent and my entire team knows how important ... (it) is to me. ... We've talked in the past about how important it is, historically, that you get a movie like that correct. And not only historically, but it's also important that you give that particular movie (and) that particular name the respect and the honor that (each) deserves.

I just finished another comedy with Steve Carrell (a big-screen adaptation of the '60s television spy comedy "Get Smart"). We're going to shoot another big comedy with ("Game Plan" director) Andy Fickman called "Witch Mountain" for Disney. We'll start shooting that in March. But I would easily say (that) in 2008 it's coming back full circle and a lot of energy is going to be put back into "Kamehameha."

Is it important to me? It's a high priority to me. It always has been. That, again, is my No. 1 passion project. I hold it very near and dear to my heart. And I can't wait to do it.

Are you still going to film it here?

Of course! No question. You can't shoot it anywhere else but Hawai'i. You have to. ... But not only (because of) that, but because the people of Hawai'i deserve that. The Kamehameha name deserves that. The history of Hawai'i — the rich tradition and culture — deserves that story to be told. I'm very proud of that. And I can't wait for it to happen.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.