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DWAYNE “THE ROCK” Johnson is entering a new era—and looking totally different along the way. Production is officially underway for his latest film, The Smashing Machine, where he’s set to play the legendary-but-troubled MMA fighter Mark Kerr, and A24 has released an official first look image.
The image shows The Rock in character, getting tended to in the corner of a fighting ring. While he’s looking just as muscular and strong as always, he’s also got a full head of hair and some prosthetics on his face. Clearly, The Rock is diving deep into character for his first film with the famed indie studio/distributor.
The Smashing Machine is set to be directed by Benny Safdie. Safdie was all over screens last year, appearing in Oppenheimer, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret., and Showtime’s The Curse, but this will mark his first film as a solo director after splitting with his brother, Josh. The duo previously directed movies like Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler and Good Time with Robert Pattinson, so if those are any indication, The Smashing Machine may have a pace that moves at a mile-a-minute.
Kerr’s story is a tumultuous one. He rose to the heights of becoming a NCAA Division I champion wrestler and a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion as an MMA fighter, but battled substance abuse and troubled personal relationships along the way. Kerr’s story was previously documented in an HBO documentary titled The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
The Rock will be joined by his Jungle Cruise costar and close friend Emily Blunt in the movie; she will play Dawn Staples, who was Kerr’s wife. Blunt was actually a major inspiration in actually getting the movie made, according to Variety—while she was on the set of Oppenheimer and the two were catching up during a phone call, he suggested she watch the aforementioned documentary. She watched, and later called him back, telling him, as he recalls, “You must make this movie.”
There’s no release date yet for The Smashing Machine.
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