Dwayne Johnson, long known as the charismatic star of action blockbusters, has stunned critics with his dramatic transformation in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ premiering at the Venice Film Festival.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the biopic traces the turbulent life of Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC tournament champion whose career was derailed by opioid addiction and personal demons.
Johnson, playing far from his usual larger-than-life action persona, immersed himself in Kerr’s physicality and fragility, portraying a fighter celebrated for dominance in the cage but tormented by painkiller dependency, failed relationships, and multiple overdoses.
Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner, with early screenings praising their chemistry and emotional intensity.
Festival director Alberto Barbera called Johnson “absolutely amazing” and suggested both he and Blunt could feature prominently in next year’s awards season.
Johnson prepared by undergoing months of combat training while also shedding weight to embody Kerr’s grittier build.
For audiences, the shock lies in seeing ‘The Rock’ stripped of Hollywood gloss—emphasizing vulnerability, self-doubt, and collapse as much as triumph.
Safdie described the film as an attempt to evoke empathy and memory rather than spectacle, with the title symbolizing both Kerr’s ferocity and fragility.
Backed by A24, the project has quickly become one of the festival’s buzziest titles, with comparisons drawn to Oscar-winning transformations like Brendan Fraser in ‘The Whale.’ Johnson himself said the role was “the most personal and challenging” of his career, reflecting his own wrestling roots and familiarity with pain in professional sport.
‘The Smashing Machine’ will be released in North American cinemas on October 3, with awards season momentum already building.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the biopic traces the turbulent life of Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC tournament champion whose career was derailed by opioid addiction and personal demons.
Johnson, playing far from his usual larger-than-life action persona, immersed himself in Kerr’s physicality and fragility, portraying a fighter celebrated for dominance in the cage but tormented by painkiller dependency, failed relationships, and multiple overdoses.
Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner, with early screenings praising their chemistry and emotional intensity.
Festival director Alberto Barbera called Johnson “absolutely amazing” and suggested both he and Blunt could feature prominently in next year’s awards season.
Johnson prepared by undergoing months of combat training while also shedding weight to embody Kerr’s grittier build.
For audiences, the shock lies in seeing ‘The Rock’ stripped of Hollywood gloss—emphasizing vulnerability, self-doubt, and collapse as much as triumph.
Safdie described the film as an attempt to evoke empathy and memory rather than spectacle, with the title symbolizing both Kerr’s ferocity and fragility.
Backed by A24, the project has quickly become one of the festival’s buzziest titles, with comparisons drawn to Oscar-winning transformations like Brendan Fraser in ‘The Whale.’ Johnson himself said the role was “the most personal and challenging” of his career, reflecting his own wrestling roots and familiarity with pain in professional sport.
‘The Smashing Machine’ will be released in North American cinemas on October 3, with awards season momentum already building.
