In the initial glimpse of his forthcoming film, “The Smashing Machine“, Dwayne Johnson appears almost unrelated to how we know him, as reported by Vanity Fair. This movie is a sports drama based on true events, with Benny Safdie overseeing the writing, direction, co-production, and editing.
In this rendition, Johnson takes on the role of ex-amateur wrestler and MMA combatant Mark Kerr, while Emily Blunt portrays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife at the time. The movie additionally includes Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk in secondary roles.
The groundbreaking film titled “The Smashing Machine” is all set to make its debut at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, where it’s vying for the prestigious Golden Lion award. Following this, it will be showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2025, before its American premiere by A24 on October 3, 2025. The thrilling first trailer for this movie was unveiled on April 29, 2025.
As a movie enthusiast, I found myself irresistibly attracted to this project due to its edgy and intense nature – a chance to delve deep into my darker side. In my own words, it was like being starved for an opportunity to portray something raw and gritty, and just when I thought I wouldn’t find such a role, Smashing Machine came knocking!
For quite some time now, I’ve been involved in a long-term project that originated from my encounter with the 2002 HBO documentary titled “The Smashing Machine”. This captivating piece primarily revolved around the life of Mark Kerr and his intense battle against painkiller addiction.
Johnson later related to Kerr’s narrative, as he shared similar career experiences and personal challenges. He stated that during the late ’90s to early-mid 2000s, many of his friends tragically succumbed to addiction or suicide at a young age. Johnson found resonance with Kerr’s tale of overcoming adversity and recognized similarities in their characters, particularly the contrast between Kerr’s gentle nature and his fearsome reputation inside the ring.
In the whirlwind of 2019, I found myself captivated by the raw intensity of ‘Uncut Gems’, a masterpiece directed by Benny Safdie. Immediately, I felt an urge to connect with this visionary director, with a bold idea in mind – a film about Kerr that we could create together.
Despite the pandemic pushing the project’s timeline, neither Johnson nor Safdie abandoned the concept. Benny Safdie shared with Vanity Fair that “Dwayne was so emotionally invested in it, I couldn’t let it go.” Post working on separate ventures, Safdie revisited the film, spurred on by encouragement from Dwayne Johnson’s close friend Emily Blunt.
The ensemble features Lyndsey Gavin portraying Elizabeth Coleman, Satoshi Ishii playing Enson Inoue, James Moontasri acting as Akira Shoji, Yoko Hamamura taking on the role of Kazuyuki Fujita, Stephen Quadros appearing as himself, Paul Cheng depicting Masaaki Satake, Cyborg Abreu representing Fábio Gurgel, Andre Tricoteux embodying Paul Varelans, Marcus Aurélio assuming the character of Mestre Hulk, Whitney Moore appearing as Jacqueline, Paul Lazenby playing Hans Nijman, Olga Dzyurak interpreting Vovchanchyn’s Translator, Eric Odbaatar enacting Pride FC Cornerman, and Zoe Kosovic bringing McKenzie Coleman to life.
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2025-08-26 09:14