Dwayne Johnson Transforms Into UFC Legend Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine' Official Trailer
Benny Safdie directs the biopic for A24.
Dwayne Johnson undergoes an immense transformation as UFC legend Mark Kerr for the new A24 biopic The Smashing Machine.
Directed by one of the two Safdie brothers behind Uncut Gems, Benny Safdie makes his solo directorial feature debut on the film. Starring alongside Johnson includes Emily Blunt who plays Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, along with Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin and Oleksandr Usyk.
From 1997 to 2009, Kerr, a mixed martial artist, won four ADCC World Championships in his career. He was also the subject of a 2022 HBO documentary of the same title. The documentary focused on his substance abuse issues as well as his tumultuous relationship with his trainers and girlfriend. Johnson previously spoke to Variety about his new role stating, “Benny wants to create, and continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting. I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”
The Smashing Machine comes out on October 3 in theaters.
