Dwayne Johnson is venturing into a smaller, more challenging film project with “The Smashing Machine,” which explores the life of UFC fighter Mark Kerr and features notable combat sports figures, marking a departure from his usual blockbuster roles.
Dwayne Johnson was ready for something different.
You know him as The Rock, a colossal figure in WWE and Hollywood. His films? They’ve raked in over $12.5 billion globally. But now, he’s taking a detour into a project that resonates with MMA fans.
Come October, Johnson’s new movie, The Smashing Machine, hits the screens. It chronicles the life of Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament victor. Directed by Benny Safdie, this film is released by A24, the indie powerhouse behind 2022’s Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once. Quite the change of pace for Johnson!
“I had been wanting for years now to chase the challenge and be inspired by the challenge,” Johnson shared with Pat McAfee. “Blockbusters are fun but tough as nails to make. People love them worldwide—hopefully!” But he craved more—a role that would push his limits like never before.
And you know what? He wanted to feel nervous again. That "buzzy" feeling of not knowing how he’d pull it off? That’s what The Smashing Machine offered him, alongside talents like Benny Safdie and Emily Blount.
The film draws from The Smashing Machine documentary, capturing Kerr’s meteoric rise and subsequent struggles with addiction. It’s star-studded too! Ryan Bader steps in as Mark Coleman, Kerr’s friend and fellow UFC Hall of Famer.
Plus, heavyweight boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk portrays Russian fighter Igor Vovchanchyn, while Satoshi Ishii takes on Enson Inoue. James Moontasri plays Akira Shoji, Andre Tricoteux is Paul Varelans, and Bas Rutten makes an appearance as himself. Quite the lineup, right?