Dwayne Johnson has constructed his profession on the spine of charismatic, action-hero-based performances. From the wrestling ring to the cinema display screen, he has carved out a distinct segment because the ever-reliable powerhouse, recognized for his roles in Jumanji and the Quick & Livid franchise, amongst many others. But, beneath the bravado, the underlying reality is that the picture has typically overshadowed emotional depth, lowering Johnson to easily “the invincible Rock.” Nonetheless, this narrative could lastly shift together with his newest transformation, as The Rock takes on the position of Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine.
As an alternative of bullet-dodging stunts or quippy one-liners, Johnson’s new position is characterised by uncooked grit and the unraveling of a person trapped by habit, rage, and the very persona he has created. The position is so stripped again and weak that it guarantees to make The Rock nearly unrecognizable. With Benny Safdie directing and Emily Blunt co-starring, Johnson will shed his ordinary persona in The Smashing Machine. Audiences acquainted with his larger-than-life legacy will see one thing utterly completely different. Given this, anticipation has been constructing, and never only for the movie, however for the second that The Rock would possibly crack open to disclose one thing blatantly human, and presumably, awards-worthy.
Dwayne Johnson Is Set To Ditch His Invincible Persona in ‘The Smashing Machine’
In his 30-plus years within the highlight, Dwayne Johnson has hardly ever deviated from his action-hero persona. Whether or not he’s rescuing the world in Rampage or cracking jokes alongside Kevin Hart, audiences have come to anticipate a well-recognized mix of muscle, magnetism, and humor. This dependable formulation has turned him into one among Hollywood’s highest-grossing stars, however has additionally inadvertently boxed him in, making roles with emotional complexity scarce. The Smashing Machine now guarantees to shatter this field.
As Mark Kerr, Johnson is just not the hyper-confident savior that audiences are accustomed to. He’s a damaged character, weak, grappling with habit, home turmoil, and the emotional scars of a fighter previous his prime. To embody Kerr’s humanity, Johnson reportedly underwent a dramatic bodily makeover. He spent three to 4 hours day by day in prosthetic make-up, perfecting each characteristic, all the way down to his stroll and expression.
Given each the emotional and bodily transformation that the position calls for, it marks a pointy departure from the standard for Johnson. The invincible persona that the actor has adopted in his performances to this point is changed with a person who’s visibly frayed and has no combat choreography to cover behind. As such, it’s a position that actually and metaphorically removes the masks, heralding a degree of depth that audiences have by no means seen in The Rock.
Dwayne Johnson Faces His Fears in ‘The Smashing Machine’
Whereas The Smashing Machine is important for the story it weaves, the movie is made all of the extra particular by way of how Johnson has approached it. In interviews, the actor has acknowledged the deep sense of apprehension he felt when making ready for the position, expressing that he skilled nerves that he had not felt in years. Chatting with Self-importance Truthful concerning the nervousness he felt, Johnson mentioned:
“It was very actual. I had not skilled that in a really, very, very very long time, the place I used to be actually scared and considering, I don’t know if I can do that. Can I do that? I spotted that perhaps these alternatives weren’t coming my manner as a result of I used to be too scared to discover these items.”
Nonetheless, this concern grew to become a software for Johnson. He has spoken about how the method allowed him to discover points of himself that he had lengthy averted. As per the actor, the expertise of partaking with themes of ache, loss, and vulnerability was unexpectedly liberating, with Johnson saying that he “discovered it so scary, but additionally, so nourishing and releasing.” The clear emphasis positioned on emotion in The Rock’s new position stands in sharp distinction to his earlier work, the place emotional depth, as a rule, performed a secondary position to spectacle.
The Rock additionally credited his collaboration with Emily Blunt, who performs Kerr’s associate, as instrumental in serving to him entry higher authenticity. He defined that their belief and long-standing friendship offered a basis that allowed him to method troublesome materials with confidence. As his opinions on the matter exhibit, the position of Mark Kerr is just not merely knowledgeable problem for Johnson, however a private milestone by way of which he can rediscover himself as an actor.
Dwayne Johnson Might Be an Awards Contender
Is an Oscar on the Desk?
Along with being a task that contributes to Johnson’s progress as an actor, it additionally represents an opportunity for him to enter critical awards consideration. Though The Rock has lengthy been related to blockbusters slightly than status dramas, the brand new position and the mix of bodily transformation and emotional dedication it calls for have already generated dialogue concerning the actor’s awards potential.
The movie’s positioning additional strengthens this risk. It’s set to premiere in the primary competitors on the Venice Movie Pageant on September 1, 2025, earlier than screening on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant on September 8, 2025, each of that are key platforms for awards contenders. Johnson himself has emphasised that this challenge is a deliberate step in the direction of roles with higher inventive depth. By working with Benny Safdie, recognized for crafting tense and emotionally complicated narratives, The Rock has efficiently aligned himself with a artistic staff able to elevating his work into new territory.
Whereas it stays to be seen how audiences and critics will reply, the potential is obvious. If the efficiency resonates, Johnson might transition from being seen primarily as a blockbuster determine to being acknowledged as a critical dramatic actor able to awards-caliber work. As such, his position in The Smashing Machine might simply be Dwayne Johnson’s most transformative position but. The Smashing Machine is scheduled for launch on October 3, 2025.
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