The Smashing Machine

After 25 years Dwayne Johnson has finally done it, he’s acted in a movie. In a weird circular way it took a role that was most like his real life before he was able to fully immerse himself both mentally and physically into his role. Viewers seeing the first trailers for The Smashing Machine were shocked at his transformation into legendary wrestler Mark Kerr. Amusingly 53 year old Johnson is playing the young version of a man who is currently 3 years his senior.

The film is directed by Benny Safdie(Uncut Gems) and co-stars Academy Award-nominee Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend, last time these two appeared together it was on Disney’s 2021 film Jungle Cruise.

The film was inspired by the documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, which follows his highs, lows, and struggles with substance abuse as he tries to deal with the pain of a much rougher time in MMA’s history.

A24 has a reputation when it comes to cinematography and film treatment, and that’s no exception here. To film the movie Safdie captured the feel of the era by making sure he filmed on the same equipment used by the Pride Fighting Championship back in the 90s.

To get his form up to scratch for the film Johnson was balancing practice for the film with an active participation in WrestleMania 40. On the side he also got to wrestle with Kerr himself to learn his style as well as Kerr’s old rival and mate Mark Coleman.

It was “A true honor for me to pay homage and respect to this legendary MMA Godfather, all MMA fighters, the MMA community, and all our athletes who’ve struggled with mental health and addiction,” says Dwayne Johnson about his chance to film this movie. I’m sure it will be even sweeter if it earns him his first consideration for an Oscar.