Fortnite fans think its major new character is secretly being played by The Rock
Solid foundation.
Fortnite fans think they've uncovered who plays the game's important new character The Foundation: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
The Foundation crashed into Fortnite this week as part of the game's Zero Crisis Finale event, and aided players in their bid to stabilise the island.
As leader of the mysterious group named as The Seven, The Foundation appears to hold a critical role in the game's upcoming storyline - and seems set to reappear as soon as he can be freed from being trapped inside the Zero Point itself.
So, why Johnson? Well, there are a few clues.
First up, there's a mysterious Instagram video from The Rock himself, namedropping The Foundation right at the end. It was posted on 16th March, the day of the Zero Crisis Finale event, though no-one seems to have noticed at the time:
"March 16th 2021 around the world, today was a big day," Johnson said, going on to mention a certain global culture with which he shared a particular connection and similar DNA. Is this wrestling, or could this be video games? He's appeared in a couple games over the years, though this could also be a nod to his work on the recent Jumanji films.
"This is all done to strengthen and evolve and grow the power and the force known as... The Foundation," Johnson continued, before looking into the camera and giving his trademark eyebrow raise.
Next, there's the character's design. Fans have pointed to the placement of The Foundation's circular armour vent and bulky arms as reminiscent of Johnson's chest tattoos and rippling muscles. I guess?
Could it be him..? The tattoo profile, the name... from r/FortNiteBR
In Fortnite's files, The Foundation's voice lines are kept in a folder titled "DJ" - Dwayne Johnson?
Then there's the character's name, of course - rock being a solid foundation. More tenuously, fans have also pointed to Johnson's recent work on Disney projects and the fact Zero Crisis Finale was worked upon by Marvel's Russo brothers as another link.
Mysteriously, Epic Games declined to tell me who The Foundation's voice actor was when contacted earlier this week. Something's cooking...