Dwayne Johnson and Brendan Fraser first met making “The Mummy Returns.” The 2001 sequel continued Fraser’s burgeoning leading-man career, but it was the first ever film role for Johnson, then better known as WWE’s The Rock. In recent years, both actors have enjoyed festival acclaim (and lengthy standing ovations). “Rental Family,” Fraser’s first leading role after winning an Oscar for “The Whale” in 2023, tasks the star with playing an actor in Tokyo helping people to feel human connection, and drew tears at its Toronto premiere. And “The Smashing Machine,” starring Johnson as real-life MMA athlete Mark Kerr, earned tearful rounds of applause at Venice and Toronto.

Brendan Fraser: Hi, Dwayne.

Dwayne Johnson: Good to see you, brother. I’d love to start off our conversation by giving

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