Because of scheduling conflicts, Brendan Fraser, who starred in the movie, “Journey To The Center of The Earth”, will no longer be part of the sequel. Instead, Dwayne Johnson has been hired to lead the movie, which will have a 3D treatment. The deal should be expected to close this week.

THe actor will play boyfriend to the mother of one of the returning characters, Sean Anderson, who still be played by Josh Hutcherson. The sequel’s story takes place on a trip to a mystical island to find Johnson’s character’s grandfather.

Three other new characters are going to be introduced in the movie as well, with production expecting to start in October in Hawaii.