TV’s Shark Week is back — here’s what you need to know

The beloved summer tradition Shark Week is back with Hayward native Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson serving as its first Master of Ceremonies. It starts on Sunday, July 24 and runs through July 30 on Discovery Channel and discovery+.

Shark Week promises 25 hours of never-seen footage of walking sharks, awe-inspiring breaches and more shocking predations, say organizers, along with celebrity guests including comedian Tracy Morgan, the stars of truTV’s “Impractical Jokers” — Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Brian Quinn — and the cast of “Jackass.”

“I filmed exclusively in my home state of Hawaii, these beautiful predators, Aumakua (Gods), are deeply revered and respected in our Polynesian culture,” Johnson said on his Instagram.

Johnson will kick off and close the first five nights of programming with a special message that highlights shows that day. Each message will also connect viewers to the importance of sharks in Johnson’s culture and personal story. His tattoo, for example, shows shark teeth that are thought to “protect my ancestors and our MANA,” (the spiritual life force in Samoan culture), he said on Instagram.