Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has turn out to be one in all Hollywood’s largest film stars, however it’s laborious to argue that the actor has reached his potential as a dramatic pressure. He seems to be to alter that with a transformative function in The Smashing Machine, the upcoming A24 sports activities drama that revolves across the lifetime of legendary UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie, the movie largely focuses on the private struggles of the martial artist, in and outdoors the ring.
Attending the Venice Movie Competition (through The Hollywood Reporter), Johnson revealed throughout a press convention that present process a bodily transformation for The Smashing Machine was one thing he was “actually hungry” to do. The Purple One star needed to push himself bodily to tackle the function of a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and match the looks of a martial artist. Because the trailer suggests, Johnson was in a position to replicate Kerr’s physicality, however there’s a dramatic element within the story that particularly attracted the actor.
“This transformation was one thing I used to be actually hungry to do. I had been very lucky to have the profession that I’ve had through the years and to make the movies that I’ve made, however there was only a voice within me, a little bit voice that stated, ‘Nicely, what if I may do extra — I need to do extra and what does that appear to be?’”
Johnson described the movie as a “love story,” because it places the connection between Kerr and his spouse, Daybreak (Emily Blunt), on the forefront. He then obtained visibly emotional, discussing the UFC fighter’s previous and the way it makes the story “so particular.” THR revealed that Kerr himself was “visibly moved” upon listening to Johnson’s phrases through the press convention.
“Mark was the best fighter on this planet at one level, however this movie shouldn’t be even actually about combating — it’s a love story. It’s a love story about Mark and Daybreak on this relationship, and it’s a love story about Mark and the love that he had for the factor that he did — his wrestle with making an attempt to ship [in the ring], his challenges and his overcoming. As you already know, Mark OD’d twice, and he’s fortunate to be alive — and that’s a part of why this story is so particular.”
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Extra to come back.

The Smashing Machine
- Launch Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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123 minutes
- Director
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Benny Safdie
- Writers
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Benny Safdie
- Producers
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Beau Flynn, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia