Dwayne Johnson Transforms Into Mark Kerr

Dwayne Johnson is sort of unrecognizable within the first have a look at his upcoming A24 drama “The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie and co-starring his “Jungle Cruise” display screen associate Emily Blunt. The movie casts Johnson as legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who struggled with dependancy and his marriage whereas changing into an icon of the game. Blunt is starring as Daybreak Staples, Kerr’s spouse. The movie is presently in manufacturing.

Whereas Johnson seems usually ripped as Kerr in “The Smashing Machine” first look, he additionally seems to be sporting some facial prosthetics to assist him remodel into the MMA legend. Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Event Champion and World Vale Tudo Championship match winner. Over the course of his profession, he received over two dozen MMA titles.

“The Smashing Machine” marks the solo function directorial debut of Safdie, who collaborated along with his brother Josh on A24’s indie hits corresponding to “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems.” Benny acted alongside Blunt in Christopher Nolan’s “Opppenheimer.” Johnson and Safdie first linked on the undertaking in 2019 however fell out of contact and put the movie on maintain because of the pandemic. Years later, Johnson and Blunt have been on the cellphone when Blunt revealed she had simply watched the 2002 documentary “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Instances of Excessive Fighter Mark Kerr” and inspired Johnson: “You should make this film.”

Johnson beforehand instructed Selection that he was partially interested in “The Smashing Machine” as a result of “Benny needs to create, and continues to push the envelope on the subject of tales which are uncooked and actual, characters which are genuine and at occasions uncomfortable and arresting. I’m at some extent in my profession the place I wish to push myself in ways in which I’ve not pushed myself previously. I’m at some extent in my profession the place I wish to make movies that matter, that discover a humanity and discover battle [and] ache.”

Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions are producing the movie alongside Safdie’s Out for the Depend banner, Eli Bush and David Koplan.

A24 has not but introduced a launch date for “The Smashing Machine.”