Dwayne Johnson Headlines The Smashing Machine, Kerr Biopic

Dwayne Johnson headlines The Smashing Machine, a biographical drama directed by Benny Safdie, which opens in theaters on Friday after a Los Angeles premiere on Monday and a high-profile debut at the Venice Film Festival. The film follows the rise and fall of mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr, tracing his two UFC tournament wins in the sport’s early, less regulated years and his struggles with opioid addiction and turbulent personal relationships.

Safdie, directing solo after previous collaborations with his brother, wrote and edited the film and said he found an immediate connection with Johnson during the early stages of the project. Emily Blunt plays Kerr’s longtime partner Dawn Staples and helped reunite Johnson and Safdie to bring the project to the screen. The supporting cast includes former fighters and athletes: Ryan Bader makes his feature debut as Kerr’s rival and friend Mark Coleman, Bas Rutten appears as himself, and heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk portrays Igor Vovchanchyn.

Johnson underwent a demanding physical and emotional transformation for the role. He added roughly 30 to 32 pounds of muscle, completed an intensive training camp with MMA coaches,...