Dwayne Johnson takes dramatic turn in The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson is taking a rare turn into serious dramatic territory with The Smashing Machine, a biopic about former UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film premieres in competition at the Venice International Film Festival before a wide theatrical release on October 3. Johnson portrays Kerr, a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, in a performance that required hours of makeup work daily to transform him into the fighter’s distinctive physical and psychological profile. The project marks a deliberate shift for the action superstar as he pursues weightier, character-driven material.

The Smashing Machine centers on Kerr’s professional triumphs and personal battles, including struggles with substance use and a tumultuous marriage. Kerr’s life has long been associated with the toll of elite MMA competition, a theme the film reportedly explores through a blend of on-screen intensity and intimate, vulnerable moments. Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, has described Johnson’s fall into the role as a remarkable transformation. The pair formed a close collaboration during filming, with Blunt noting that Johnson’s posture,...