Dwayne Johnson is joining Josh Hutcherson in New Line's Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, reports Heat Vision.

Brad Peyton is directing the 3D film, in which Dwayne Johnson will play the boyfriend of Josh Hutcherson's mom. Josh Hutcherson will reprise his role as burgeoning explorer Sean Anderson, who is forced to bring his mom on a trip to a mythical and monstrous island to find his missing grandfather. The script is loosely based on Jules Verne's "The Mysterious Island."

Three other characters will be introduced in the movie and cast during the next few weeks.

In 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth, Brendan Fraser played scientist Trevor Anderson, who was an uncle of Josh Hutcherson's character. Brendan Fraser is not returning after hitting an impasse over start dates.

Production will star in late October in North Carolina and Hawaii.