Dwayne Johnson Steps Into Cage As UFC Fighter Mark Kerr In ‘The Smashing Machine’
Dwayne Johnson is stepping away from his usual action-packed and animated roles to play UFC legend Mark Kerr in a new A24 film titled The Smashing Machine.
Known for blockbuster hits like Fast & Furious and Moana, Johnson is now taking on one of his most serious and transformative roles yet.
The film is set to hit theaters on October 3, and fans are already buzzing about Johnson’s dramatic new look and performance. This role marks a major shift from the kind of characters Dwayne Johnson usually plays.
Who Is Mark Kerr?
Mark Kerr, now 56, made his name as a dominant force in early UFC history. He’s a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a World Vale Tudo champion.
Known for ending fights quickly using brutal techniques like headbutts and knee strikes, Kerr earned the nickname “The Smashing Machine.”
But outside the cage, Kerr’s life was full of struggles. He battled drug addiction and went through a turbulent marriage with Dawn Staples.
His life story was the focus of the 2002 HBO documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
Kerr officially retired from fighting in 2010 and later revealed he has been living with peripheral neuropathy since 2016—a painful nerve condition that affects movement and sensation.
What to Expect from The Smashing Machine
In this upcoming film, Dwayne Johnson also known as The Rock delivered a performance unlike anything fans have seen before.
Moving away from his typical larger-than-life roles, Johnson said he was looking for something deeper and more human.
“I’m at this point in my career where I want more,” Johnson told Variety last year. “And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”
That’s why he teamed up with filmmaker Benny Safdie, who is both writing and directing the film. Safdie is known for Uncut Gems and the Showtime series The Curse.
Johnson’s wrestling background gives him a unique connection to the role. Before his movie career took off, Dwayne Johnson was a professional wrestler in WWE from 1996 to 2004, winning multiple championships.
Originally known as “Rocky Maivia”—a tribute to his father and grandfather—he later became simply “The Rock,” a name now known worldwide.
The Cast and First Impressions
Joining Dwayne Johnson in the film is Emily Blunt, who plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s ex-wife.
The trailer for The Smashing Machine was released on April 29, and early reactions from fans highlight just how different Johnson looks and sounds in the role.
One viewer commented, “I almost didn’t recognize his face. The transformation is amazing.”
“I really love how soft-spoken he sounds,” another added. “And the makeup artists did such an incredible job!”
The Smashing Machine represents a bold step in Dwayne Johnson’s acting career. With a powerful real-life story at its core and a talented team behind the scenes, this movie could be one of his most critically acclaimed performances yet.
Watch The Smashing Machine trailer:
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