He’s starred alongside Rachel Weisz, Vin Diesel and a crocodile named Lizzie, but now Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson is preparing to share the limelight with … Ursula von der Leyen.
The president of the European Commission will join the former wrestler turned action movie lead as co-hosts of a global coronavirus pledging summit and concert on Saturday.
Details of the event were first revealed late last month. The Commission on Monday gave more information on those who will take part.
The goal is to raise donations from everyone — not just major countries and philanthropists — to help find diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to fight coronavirus.
Von der Leyen and Johnson — whose box office hits include “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” and “The Mummy Returns” — will co-host the event, which will include performances by Christine and the Queens, Shakira, Coldplay, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber.
The concert — which is part of the Global Goal: Unite For Our Future campaign launched by the Commission and the anti-poverty movement Global Citizen — will also feature appearances by Chris Rock, Hugh Jackman, Charlize Theron, Forest Whitaker, David Beckham and Salma Hayek.
It will be broadcast by a number of European TV channels and on social media.
In a statement, von der Leyen said: “Artists have the power to inspire change. They use their talents to serve great causes. On 27 June, at the ‘Global Goal: Unite for our Future’ Summit and Concert, artists, scientists and world leaders will speak with one voice, in a true and rare moment of global unity. They will commit to helping the world end coronavirus, while leaving no one behind. The European Union is fully committed to ensuring fair access to an affordable vaccine, as soon as possible, for everyone that needs it. United, I know we can make the world a safer place.”